How did the collaboration with Camper come about?
In July, 2008, I was commissioned to design both a store and a pair of shoes for the 'Camper toðer' collaboration project, designed by Camper with various creators around the world.
Why did you decide to use your Bouquet chair for Moroso as a starting point?
The idea incorporating principles of nature was in fact derived from the installation presented in New York in 2007, where approximately 30,000 sheets of tissues covered the entire space creating a scene reminiscent of snowscape. The store shares the similar world-view of the Bouquet Chair and brings elation to the viewers.
You’ve been using the same folding technique for a couple of years now – what is it about the effect that you like so much?
In recent years, I have been presenting designs, which incorporate the law of nature or a phenomenon. With Camper, I tried to express the elements existing in nature such as plants and flowers. Gathering each flower petal of different appearances has created the ever-changing expression in scenery of the store.
Does it take on a specific significance when applied to the Camper brand?
Folding technique may not take on a specific significance for Camper. But the colour used in the material signifies the corporate colour of Camper and also the images of the brand, which is positive and energetic.
Camper has a heritage of working with the world’s leading creatives in their store designs – is it important to make your own stamp and create an interior that people instantly recognise as yours?
I think the principle of this project is to bring a new value to Camper through each creator's design method. Therefore, I pondered on a new design, which embraces Camper's brand identity and my originality. However, I don’t think all the customers recognize that I designed the store. The most important thing is whether the customers enjoy being in the space and the design helps with that.
Since you won a Wallpaper* design award as best furniture designer in 2008, the design world has changed quite radically. Have events in the past year and a half changed your approach to design?
The Wallpaper* award gave me an opportunity to communicate with more and more people through my works. More generally, in these years, I’ve wondered how people understand my work in relation to the things that are happening in the world. This is how I’ve come to notice that my work is close to the principles of nature and natural beauty. However, my attitude to design has never changed. The reason I continue to design is to make people happy.
What else are you working on at the moment?
I will be designing a Teijin stand for the Japan industry pavilion for the Shanghai EXPO, which will be held in China from 1 May, 2010. I’m also currently working on some very ambitious and interesting projects, which I have dreamed of for a long time but are still confidential.
Entitled ‘It’s a Man’s World’, the experience has been pedalled as ‘the ultimate international destination for the fashion conscious man’. Set in the ensconcing throes of Harrods’s lower ground floor, the revamped menswear emporium will feature all the old favourites, with new collections from Prada to Zegna and Lanvin to Brioni in some wholly sumptuous surrounds.
All dense woods, creams and gentleman’s club-inspired aesthetics, the space has been designed to encourage the most leisurely of shopping approaches. With made-to-measure suits, grooming treatments, rare wines and state of the art technology all available from the comfort of the chocolate leather sofas - this is the least like shopping that shopping has ever been.
Aside from all the usual offerings, a series of one-off items have been produced by a whole host of designers for the launch - with a limited edition Union Jack t-shirt from Yves Saint Laurent, an exclusive print designed by Paul Smith featuring a candy-striped Mini on the roof of Harrods, and a crocodile-skin handled ‘It bag’ exclusively from Prada.
Opened with a flurry of well appointed luxury this weekend, each of the first 300 customers to make a purchase over £50 received a complimentary bag featuring Acqua di Parma hat box sets and samples of Bond No.9 for Him – exclusive to Harrods.
The Harrods menswear emporium - open from Saturday 31st October
After working for the likes of Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano, London-based designer Aggugini launched his debut collection at nearby Dover Street Market, after being plucked from the crowd by Rei Kawakubo herself.
Since then, Aggugini’s immaculately tailored collections - which combine the ragged punk spirit of 70’s London and the sartorial perfection of the same city's tailoring heritage - have gone on to garner international acclaim.
The boutique itself features an edited selection of signature pieces from past seasons; one-off garments from the current collections; photographs; paintings and a range of vintage Chanel jewelry from a generous private collector.
Set to stay open up until October 31st , Aggugini’s one-off store is a fitting dose of left-of-centre creativity that London Fashion Week is famed for.
© by Wmagazine
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