Deft use of colour has long defined the work of British fashion designer Paul Smith, who this month unites with Boffi | DePadova on a collaborative collection – debuting at Salone del Mobile 2022 – comprising artisanal sofas, armchairs, poufs, coffee tables, blankets, benches and trays.
Earthy shades of ecru and brick red meet bolder swathes of peacock green and deep midnight blue across the sustainably minded collaboration, alongside vivid flashes of lime green – a colour distinct to Paul Smith, and the collection’s ‘hero hue’.
Beginning with the designer’s guiding phrase, ‘you can find inspiration in everything’, these colours enliven an otherwise clean-lined collection titled ‘Everyday Life’, which melds comfortable, understated design with luxury materials and playful details – much like Smith’s own clothing collections. ‘An homage to the value of craftsmanship,’ say Paul Smith and Boffi | DePadova of the collaboration.
The fabrics include sustainable and low-impact hemp, kapok (naturally organic, hypoallergenic and insulating) and recycled feathers, while dark oak, leather and marble provide the collection’s structure. ‘The juxtaposition of wood and stone references Paul’s love of the unexpected,’ say the accompanying notes.
Elsewhere, references to the history of Smith’s eponymous label appear throughout: ‘Punto Cavallo’ stitches are a nod to the designer’s tailoring heritage, while contrast zig-zag and cross-stitching in various hues recall the Paul Smith ‘Signature Stripe’ (the recognisable design is finding renewed life in recent months, appearing in the brand’s advertising campaigns and across dedicated mens- and womenswear collections).
‘I have total and absolute respect for DePadova and its history, to which many design heroes of mine have contributed,’ says Smith. ‘I admire the uncompromising quality and functional aesthetics, so my touch is tucked in subtle and not so obvious details that present classic in a new light.’
Roberto Gavazzi, Boffi | DePadova CEO, adds: ‘Paul Smith is unique in the fashion world, with his distinctive style that has been able to stand out over time. We admire the way the colours reveal themselves in his creations with a surprise effect, and this is the spirit we wanted to bring to the collection.’
INFORMATION
paulsmith.com
boffidepadova.com
ADDRESS
De Padova Santa Cecilia
Via Santa Cecilia, 7
Milano
-
Our Tech Editor's selection of new and upgraded audio players covers the full spectrum of formatsWhether it’s vinyl, cassette, CD or mp3, or even sound sources you’ve captured yourself, you’ll find a suitable device in this round-up of pocketable and portable audio players
-
This Swedish summer house is a family's serene retreat by the trees and the Baltic seaHorsö, a Swedish summer house by Atelier Alba is a playfully elegant retreat by the Kalmarsund Sea and a natural reserve
-
A new exhibition retraces 50 years of Pierre Paulin’s history around the table‘Les Tables de Pierre Paulin’ shows a lesser-known side of the designer’s creative world, accompanied by a new book tracing his wife’s hospitality around his iconic table designs. ‘A creator is never alone in his creation…’
-
Faye Toogood brings new life to Matisse’s legacyMilan Design Week 2023: tapped by Maison Matisse, the London-based designer has taken inspiration from the French master’s forms to create a collection of heirloom-worthy objects
-
Prada Frames 2023: Milan programme announcedProgramme announced for Prada Frames 2023 at Milan Design Week, the annual symposium curated by Formafantasma at Luigi Caccia Dominioni's Teatro Filodrammatici from 17 to 19 April
-
Alessi Occasional Objects: Virgil Abloh’s take on cutleryBest Cross Pollination: Alessi's cutlery by the late designer Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with his London studio Alaska Alaska, is awarded at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
-
Salone del Mobile 2023: highlights from Milan Design WeekIn pictures: our highlights from Milan Design Week, held during the 61st Salone del Mobile 2023 (18-23 April)
-
USM launches blushing pink limited edition of its modular furnitureFollowing an installation during Milan Design Week 2022, USM launches a new pink limited edition of its Haller range
-
‘You don't want space; you want to fill it’: Milan exhibitionMaking its debut during Milan Design Week 2022 at Marsèll Paradise, a new exhibition by Matylda Krzykowski, explores how we approach the space we live in (until 15 July 2022)
-
Men’s mental health takes centre stage at an art and design exhibition by Tableau‘Confessions’, which travels to Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design following its debut at Milan Design Week 2022, features commissioned work by 14 male artists, designers and architects, reflecting on toxic masculinity, vulnerability and mental health
-
Salone del Mobile 2022: highlights from Milan Design WeekIn pictures: our highlights from Milan Design Week 2022, held during the 60th edition of Salone del Mobile (7 – 12 June 2022)
