Tiffany Readies for an Exhibition, the Eames Institute Launches, and More News

From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, there’s always something new happening in the world of design. In this regular roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know. 

Business

Mango Home Comes to the U.S.

Mango, one of Europe’s largest fashion brands, is continuing to stretch its reach with an expanding foray into homeware. Since its launch in 2021, the line has primarily been available in Europe through online sales. But on April 6, the company announced its intention to broaden that availability to the U.S. market by adding bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedroom products to its American website too. As part of the launch, the fashion brand has also committed to furthering their sustainability initiatives, with each product being made up of 80% sustainable materials.

Drama at the CEH 

More than a dozen designers have taken to social media to call out the CEH, a Dallas furniture brand, for alleged shady business practices. Complaints claim that, over the past year, the company, which sells antique and bespoke furniture, has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in deposits without fulfilling orders or providing refunds. This week, the “Wreck List,” a Substack newsletter, produced an account of the company’s actions and lack of communication around outstanding orders, surfacing even more reports from designers in the comments. (One firm noted being out $10,000 from an order placed almost a year ago. The order was never delivered, the post said, and the company provided no explanation.) As of yesterday, the CEH has stopped processing orders on its website, though many are still working to recoup lost payments.

Product Launches

Marimekko Debuts First Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Finnish brand Marimekko has teamed up with Wallpops to debut its first peel-and-stick line of wallpaper. The collection offers four of Marimekko’s signature vibrant patterns in a variety of colorways, with print motifs ranging from wildflowers and fruits to elephants and giraffes. The rolls, now available online through Wallpops, run for $50 each.

Allegra Hicks Teams Up With the Invisible Collection

British designer and artist Allegra Hicks has created a new line of furnishings for the Invisible Collection. Hicks, who was originally trained in alfresco painting, remains inspired by the nature of painting and the fluidity of watercolors. “My style is tied together by one visual language, which is translated into different forms,” she shared in a press statement. “This collection has enabled me to explore new dimensions—particularly the metamorphosis effect of working in metal.” The offerings include four different lines, with pieces ranging from a unique bronze-cast sculptural tree side table, to a banquette that appears to defy gravity thanks to a cast rope structure.

Openings

A Diamond-Studded Exhibition Comes to Saatchi Gallery

On May 2, Saatchi Gallery will open its doors to a new Tiffany & Co. exhibition. Titled “Vision & Virtuosity,” the show provides a visual retelling of the story behind the iconic brand, with many of their timeless signature memorabilia included in the contemporary London gallery. After beginning with stories of founder Charles Lewis Tiffany, the exhibit is broken into seven sections. One is dedicated to Breakfast at Tiffany’s and features the iconic window display seen in the film, along with the Empire diamond, a new acquisition for the brand. Another component of the show pays homage to many of the iconic creators who have collaborated with Tiffany in the past, from Elsa Peretti to Jean Schlumberger. The show will run through August 19, 2022.

Good Works

The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosities Is (Almost) Here

The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosities has announced its launch. The initiative is a new nonprofit organization formed by Llisa Demetrios (granddaughter of Charles and Ray Eames, and the institute’s curator), designer and entrepreneur Joe Gebbia, and John Cary (the insitute’s CEO). The organization will focus on providing resources, tools, archival materials, and programming to up-and-coming creatives to help solve the pressing issues of our time—all through the lens of legendary problem solvers Charles and Ray Eames, whose innovations remain influential today.

In the News

Christie’s Readies for a Tour de Force Auction

The late Anne Bass, a longtime pillar of New York society, acquired quite the collection of art throughout her years. Before her passing in 2020, the philanthropist frequently entertained at her Fifth Avenue apartment (a space that was “entirely breathtaking,” according to Hamish Bowles). On the walls hung pieces by the likes of Rothko, Monet, and Degas. Now, from April 5–8, twelve of those astounding works are on view at Christie’s London in preparation for the auction. The auction itself will take place during Christie’s Marquee Week at Rockefeller Plaza. It is expected fetch more than $250 million.

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