A pillow at Abraham & Thakore
The Maison & Objet trade fair is one of my favorites. I always look forward to my trips to Paris to see the color and design creativity that I have come to expect from this show.
Today was my first day at the autumn fair, and I was not disappointed. I saw many wonderful products, but a pillow at Abraham & Thakore topped the list. This hand-made linen toss pillow is decorated with a row of same-colored blossoms with unfinished edges (see image at left).
It was those unfinished edges that got my attention. I asked designer David Abraham why he chose that look for this otherwise neatly finished pillow.
It is a luxury piece, he told me, but it speaks to a new kind of luxury that is distanced as much as possible from what passes for luxury today. That’s because this tier has been commoditized to the point where most luxury products are simply high-priced goods.
Designer David Abraham
Mr. Abraham believes that the new definition of luxury insists upon not only on using top quality materials and applying good design, but also demands that items are hand-made—and limited. Being constructed individually and not by machine, there will be fewer of this piece available over the lifespan of the design.
Now back to those unfinished edges…
Adding a row of carefully cut blossoms with loose or uneven edges represents the quality of hand-made products in a raw way. And if David Abraham is right, this is the kind of look that will have increasing appeal for a high-end market that wants more for their money. Here is a picture of David Abraham with a few more of his wonderful creations.
To learn more about the Maison & Objet trade fair, watch for our Trend Album™: Maison & Objet to be released in just a few weeks. Subscribers to The Trend Curve™ can call 800.531.5514, or email Janice directly, to pre-order. Those who do not yet subscribe can visit our web site and click on the Trend Store link to watch for the product release.