Our last blog looked at the very talented Carnovsky duo and their most recent installation in collaboration with Missoni. This week we are excited to share an update on Areaware, a NYC producer of everyday products that are mindful, unusual and functional. Areaware collaborates with young and local designers in a mission to create a strong voice for American design.

We were inspired after watching the many personalities of the popular Balancing Blocks captured in this short creative video. Versatile in their design we love that this product can be displayed as a decorative sculpture or alternatively be the perfect inventive gift for children.

SEE THE VIDEO HERE.

We hope this video inspires the way you display your Balancing Blocks at home, if you don’t already have some be sure you check them out online or in our showroom.
You can find these fantastic blocks here.

One of our newest editions the iPod dock, designed by Jonas Damon for Areaware is a quirky take on the faux wood grain GE flip clocks popular in the 1970’s. The iPod dock itself has no built in electronics or speakers and is made from sustainably harvested beechwood. Find it here.

 Curious to see how this works? Check out the video here.

Also new from Areaware;

Concrete Tape Dispenser by Magnus Pettersen for Areaware, available here. 

Bottle Opener by Brendan Ravenhill for Areaware. Available in Walnut here.

As the highlights of the Salone del Mobile 2013 filter through we thought we should share our favourites.

Some of you may have already marvelled at the extraordinary work of the very talented CARNOVSKY duo, (Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla). We sponsored a wallpaper installation by Carnovsky at last years Decoration & Design, posted here.

Well, they have been super busy this year creating their own exhibition, “Fabulous Landscapes” at Fondazione Pini in Brera, Milan.

They have also collaborated with Missoni creating and extraordinary RGB art installation at the Missoni showroom in via Solferina, Milan.

See the video here - Missoni x Carnovsky

Video filmed and edited by Marco Proserpio and Jacob Farina.

Contact us if you would like more information on Carnovsky. If you would like to purchase a Carnovsky RGB silk scarf you can do so here.

All images courtesy of Yatzer. See more from Milan here.

One of our favourite publications, Dumbo Feather, have a lovely snapshot of a few of their favourite things in the current issue, which is just out now.

Included in this issue are the wonderful wooden Dovetail animals by Areaware and a selection of rope works by Doug Johnston, all of which you can purchase online or in our showroom.

See how you can create your own dovetail animal here. The more animals you collect, the greater the possibilities!
Also, read about Doug Johnston's brilliantly original rope work here and check back to see new works arriving at Safari soon.

As always, this issue is brimming with positive attitude, extraordinary people, fresh views and inspiring ideas. You can pick up a copy in the showroom or purchase online here. You can also subscribe and receive each issue delivered to your door. Pass it on!

Marigolde Fern cushion

Andrea Geisler of Marigolde is a women of many interests. Design, food, styling and travelling are just some of her pursuits, but beautiful textiles and traditional craftsmanship are her real passion.
Safari Living caught up with Andrea to find out more about her label 'Marigolde' and her inspired, unique range of cushions and jewellery pieces.

Tell us a little about your background, what led you to go out on your own and
start ‘Marigolde’.

Marigolde happened in a roundabout manner. I have been drawn to beautiful cloth for as long as I can recall but it was eventually a hunch that led me to being in the right place at the right time. The bulk of my career to date was in the fashion industry where I worked for about twenty years. I eventually realised that despite my love of cloth and beautifully crafted things, I don’t really have the temperament for fashion and walked away.

Following another interest I then naively opened an organic cake business! This eventually led to assisting Caroline Velik, a terrific Melbourne food stylist. Given food styling is such a competitive area to break into I was secretly dismayed when I realised it still wasn’t quite the right fit for me. So I followed a hunch and took a trip to India. I’d been there before but hadn’t had any time to explore. I was ostensibly going for some time out but hit the ground running and it quickly became obvious that I was onto something as I was engulfed in the pursuit of exquisite textiles and craftsmanship. It dawned on me that I could still work with beautiful cloth but on my own terms. I came home with some contacts and a head full of ideas from which the first collection emerged.

You travelled to India for this collection, can you tell us about some of your experiences?

India is definitely one of the most stimulating places I’ve travelled to and each time I learn a little more about what is going on beneath the surface. Overwhelmingly I am touched by the kindness and generosity of strangers as well as the wonderful food! There is a very small and picturesque village in the Himalayan foothills that I love to visit. The air and water are clear and the presence of the mountains is incredibly powerful. Out walking one day I met a old gentleman whose back yard I had inadvertently wandered into. He shook my hand and proudly listed for me his worldly possessions. The entire list took about thirty seconds. He then invited me to stay with his family.

The food is a story unto itself but everywhere I go I aim for the heart of whatever is the local delicacy and generally favour street food. That said, I was lucky enough to befriend the owner of the my favourite restaurant in Delhi who subsequently made me his guest every night, even sending simple food to my hotel when I was feeling unwell.

Marigolde muslin scarf

Talk us through your collection/pieces (the ones that we are stocking)

The collection is evolving all the time according to materials and makers that I encounter. Right now there are three components to the collection: jewellery, scarves and soft furnishings (cushions). Everything is hand made, often right from the most basic elements such as the weaving of the cloth before it is embroidered.
There is a delicate muslin scarf that combines these two processes as the motifs are woven into the cloth while it’s on the loom. It’s an ancient and time consuming technique that is unable to be mechanised.

Where did you get inspiration and ideas?

All around - objects, film, bits of cloth, a glimpse of something fantastic like ladies in traditional African dress, a mood. Nature, especially plants. The Warli cushions are inspired by the motifs of an indigenous Indian tribe whose paintings I saw on a mud brick wall. Reinterpreted on linen with hand embroidery they take on another dimension.

What do you take into consideration when creating the pieces?

I am aiming for a sophisticated look that is also earthy. Colour is very important. Almost everything springs from the materials and the processes and I hope that as I learn and find more, the collection will evolve towards the vision that’s in my head. My considerations are somewhat commercial but for the most part product comes first: it needs to feel honest and true to my aesthetic.

Marigolde Zig Zag cushion

Marigolde Warli cushion

What is your favourite piece/s and why?

The fern cushion because it’s timeless, whimsical and inspiring in its detail...this was very much a case of let’s see what happens... I had no idea whether such a complex design could be hand embroidered and the result is as good as I might have hoped for. It is the opposite of digital processes, slow, manual and individually crafted enabling master craftsmen working in Fair Trade conditions to show off their highest standard of work. Kind of outlandish but definitely worthwhile!

Marigolde's product range is currently available in store and some selected products are available online. Visit our showroom to see the intricate handmade details which make this collection a unique work of art.

Introducing the third entry to our short ‘Travel Diary’ series – Paris. We hope you enjoy it!

From top left to right: 1. Danish furniture at Centre George Pompidou, 2. Artwork by Sonia Delaunay, 3. A perfect day in Paris, 4. A photo of Constantin Brancusi in his studio.

Recreation of the Atelier Brancusi outside the Centre Georges Pompidou (Above)

From top left to right: 1. Yves Klein art (SE 71 L’Arbre, grande eponge bleue, 1962), 2. Detail of the recreation of Atelier Brancusi, 3. More from the Centre Georges Pompidou, 4. Just loved this green door.

Two months ago during a visit to Tokyo we met with the lovely Kyoko Bowskill.

Kyoko is the co-founder of Link , a collective that produces collaborative textiles and furoshiki designs from around the world. Link Collective’s beautiful and multi-functional furoshikis are handprinted in Japan using traditional printing techniques.

We wanted to know a bit more about Link Collective and how best to use the Furoshikis so asked Kyoko to share some of her tips and knowledge.

Furoshiki is a very new concept for Australians. Can you tell me about the history of furoshiki in Japan?

Furoshiki were first used in the Nara Period (about 1200 years ago) to wrap kimono. Then in the Muromachi period they started to be used for wrapping clothes whilst people bathed. It was at this time that they became known as furoshiki — from the Japanese characters “furo” (bath) and “shiki” (mat). In the Edo period, people started to use them for carrying goods such as kimonos and books, and when travelling.

In Japan, wrapping things is very important — from the everyday packaging of goods, to wrapping of gifts. When you visit Japan, you’ll be surprised how beautiful packaging is! These days in Japan, furoshiki are not the everyday items they once were, but we still use them for wrapping bento boxes and gifts and even really big ones to wrap our futons when moving house. They come in many sizes, but are always square. We choose 900 × 900mm for our furoshiki — a big canvas to allow our designers lots of room for expression.

And what about Link Collective, how and why did that start?

Link is a collective that produces contemporary textiles with designers from around the world. I founded it in 2010 with my friend Lucinda, who designed our first furoshiki. We met in Tokyo in 2003 and shared many ideas together. Lucinda then moved to L.A., and we came up with the idea of merging international design with traditional Japanese production methods — and Link was born!
Link now collaborates worldwide with designers and craftspeople, aiming to cross cultures and generations by creating beautiful and functional products. It is a unique and challenging project conducted long-distance, entirely via the internet, by busy women with a global vision.

I believe that the artists that you work with are all on different continents. How did you all meet?

Whilst Lucinda and I met when living in Tokyo, I found all the other designers we work with through the Internet. I’m always researching for inspiration and when I find an interesting portfolio online, I’ll get in touch through email. One of the initial concepts of Link was seeing how much collaborative work we could do through Internet, without meeting face to face. I have two little boys in Tokyo and it’s difficult to visit different countries to check trade shows and meet designers. But by using the Internet, it’s possible to find amazing new talent and really achieve something.

What are the challenges of working like that, with everyone so spread out around the world? Or does today’s technology eliminate any problems of that nature?

The most important thing for me is checking the designs from the designer and this is easily done through email. We don’t need to meet each other because we can discuss everything online. It really doesn’t matter where we all live. The relationship with factory is also very important, as I have to negotiate printing costs and delivery timing, and check colours and materials. But we can do all this with email or phone calls, so it’s not too difficult.

What is in the future for Link? Is there anything that you are working on that you can tell us about?

I want to keep pushing how to make real products by collaborating over the Internet. Find new designers, come up with promotions, and sell online. I’m interested in selling items with a story too — not just making beautiful products, but supporting and encouraging traditional Japanese makers. Their quality is so high, but the skills and factories are disappearing so quickly. I believe this is a great chance!

Shop the Furoshiki Collection now.

From Stockholm to Berlin, we hope you enjoy the second entry from our short ‘Travel Diary’ series.

From left to right: 1. c/o Gallery housed in the former Imperial Post Office  2. Interior wall at the Neues Museum  3. Side streets  4. Berlin street art

1. The Bode Museum on the Spree River

From left to right: 1. Customised intercom   2. Shipping containers as office and workspace 3. Modern Berlin  4. Modern Berlin

We have been loving selling Planet Luxe at Safari since the launch 12 months ago. So, we figured that you might like to hear about the development of this clever, stylish eco-brand from the founder herself, Toni Lawler.

I know that you had a very well-established and successful career in advertising. What made you switch from that?
Yes I have been very lucky to work with some of the biggest advertising agencies and most respected brands in the world. Having always worked in the services industry building other people’s businesses I started to think about developing my own product business. The big question then of course is what? The idea for Planet Luxe came after a stint as Brand Director at VicUrban – the Victorian Government’s sustainable development agency. At VicUrban I was exposed to massive amounts of research regarding how we need to reduce our environmental footprint to live sustainably so I had been thinking about that. Then one day I was spraying a cleaner in my bathroom and coughing from the fumes and wondered if I could develop a product range that helped save the environment and ourselves from toxic chemicals without sacrificing style in the process.

What are some of the challenges that you encountered in that move?
I thought I would be able to get the new business launched in a few months. It took over two years from conceptualising the idea to physically producing the initial range of seven products just over a year ago. There were times when I really didn’t think it was going to happen. Coming up with a name was the first big thing. As a marketer I wanted the name and the brand strategy before I started on developing the physical products. Finding a name that said what I wanted and was available  to trademark and get online was a challenge! Once that was done I worked withe talented graphic designer – Richard Blackman of RBD – to develop the beautiful logo and packaging design. Then came the actual development of the formulations which involved over a year of product testing to get them right. Now the biggest challenge is running the business, making sure I have enough stock to meet retailer orders plus working on the development of new products.

What are some of the positives?
I love that every day I am thinking about something new. Working as a consultant was great but after many years of doing it there was an element of same same about my job. Working in the product space and with retailers is so much fun. I am constantly faced with issues that I have to sort out that are different to what I am used to doing. I also love the creative element of new product development.

Can you tell us a little about the Planet Luxe philosophy, both from the viewpoint of sustainability, and the way you have chosen to distribute the brand?
Planet Luxe is an eco-lifestyle brand. All products are made with thought and consideration for the environment and to address the growing health concerns about exposure to noxious chemicals in the home. So we can all live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle and still be surrounded by beautiful things. This range is about doing better. If you need a really heavy duty cleaner then use it. But if you can replace that bad stuff most of the time then you are doing much better for yourself, your family, your pets and the environment.

In developing this range not only was it critical that the formulations were pure, safe, luscious, smelt heavenly and worked brilliantly, the packaging had to be functional and look amazing, too. This range appeals to the eco-luxe consumer looking for safe ingredients and a modern design aesthetic. People are leaving these on the counter they look so good.

With our strong design the brand has been picked up by lifestyle stores. I am very grateful to Safari as you were our first stockist and really set the benchmark for the type of store that stocks the range now (over 40 stores around Australia). Safari has a very strong brand and position in the marketplace for knowing what’s hot and what’s good – so I am sure being able to say we were in Safari helped get it into other great stores.

What do you see ahead for Planet Luxe?
A bright future I hope. Currently we are working on some new products including a second House Cleaner formulation and a Dish Washer powder amongst many other things. So watch this space!

We are excited to introduce another personal fragrance collection to Safari Living for this Spring/ Summer, Andrea Maack Parfums.

Andrea Maack is an Icelandic artist who created a spark within design circles for the launch of her eponymous niche fragrance line in 2010. True to her artistic origins, the parfum line was launched with an installation titled Eau de Parfum.

Andrea has encapsulated a modern shift in people’s experiences and attitudes towards the fragrances they wear. Exploring the notion that people no longer traditionally wear one scent, rather they mix scents to match different moods and events. Andrea personally views perfume as a form of expression much like her art, such thinking lead her to being labeled as a ‘fresh heir of perfumery’ in the UK Financial Times.

We are delighted to present this unisex line of perfumes, available both online and instore, for both the quality of the fragrance as well as the exquisite beauty of its minimal aesthetic, including the stunning marble top stopper.