Ever since we started Unison back in 2006 we have worked with Griswold Textile Print in Rhode Island. Founded in 1877 on the banks of the Pawcatuk River, it serves as one of the few hand print mills left in the United States. We wanted to work with a factory that still hand screened since we had just come back from spending several years as junior designers at the famous textile and design house Marimekko in Finland. It was at Marimekko we learned about high-level craftsmanship and that pride felt about the products created. Griswold is very unique in that it still hand screens which we feel is important in today’s world of highly mechanized textile industry. Their commitment to quality has been unwavering and we are grateful for having such a unique partner in the creation of our products. All of the fabrics we produce with Griswold are inspected right at our headquarters in Chicago and then converted by a local sewing company into our line of pillows, tablecloths, aprons, napkins, oven mitts and potholders.
Author: Alicia Rosauer
In Love with Foxglove
Tomorrow is the big day for so many florists around the country – but did you know that one of the best ones out there is right here in Chicago? Our very own Caitlin Kerr (you can count on her to help pick out something special at our store on Division) is also known and celebrated as Foxglove Studio. Tomorrow during our Valentine’s Day Event she will be at the store offering one of a kind custom arrangements and a Unison Valentine’s Package: super fresh carnations packed into our long lasting Falcon tumbler paired with a bar of your choice of delish Wild Opehlia chocolate by local chocolatier Vosges. Either gift will be sure to bring a smile to your sweetheart, momma, or that someone special you just want to make happy.
Meanwhile, check out the lush beauties that Caitlin has created for many a wedding, birth, Valentine and photo shoot. And look for more work by Caitlin in our upcoming Summer catalog!
Unison Spring 2014 Collection on Happy Mundane
We are honored to have our Spring 2014 Collection reviewed and posted by Blogger / Curator / Pinterest / Instagram Guru, Jonathan Lo on his beautiful blog, Happy Mundane. It is a blog that “celebrates the ordinary and the extraordinary, good design of any kind, and takes a moment to appreciate some things that get overlooked in the everyday.”
Jonathan is currently the principal and founder of J3 Productions – a multidisciplinary design studio + consultancy. With tons of experience as creative director and editor for a variety of design publications, Jonathan is listed as one of the Top 10 most followed men on Pinterest by Mashable.com, and mentioned on Huffington Post for his Personal Style and Home Decor boards. Click here to check out his exclusive interview by Pinterest co-founder Ben Silbermann, on the Pinterest blog. Also, check out Jonathan’s feature on the West Elm blog.
We love how Jonathan laid out our product shots with colorful sweeps. So cool! Thanks Jonathan for a lovely review.
Here is a small taste of Jonathan’s Instagram:
A Valentine’s Event at Unison
Not going for the bling bling Valentine gift this year? We’ve got you covered! Come by our store on Friday, February 14th between 11-7pm to pick up a lovely bouquet assembled by local florist Foxglove Studio. Bouquets come in our coveted Falcon Enamel tumblers with Wild Ophelia chocolates from the makers of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. This thoughtful combo sells for $40, but you can also purchase the chocolates and tumblers separately if you prefer. We’ll be sampling the chocolate and hanging out with cool girl, Caitlin, of Foxglove. Plus you can enjoy an additional 14% off all red items in honor of the holiday. Do not go home empty handed!
Valentine’s Event at Unison / February 14th / 11-7pm
1911 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
773.227.3180
The Power of Studio Powers
We love seeing what creatives do with our bedding and pillows. Studio Powers is a perfect example. Just before the holidays, Interior Designer, Michael Powers, ordered this excellent combination of Sailor + Regatta Grey bedding with pops of red and yellow for a residential project. What a success! His background is in architectural interior design. For seven years he served as Director of Architecture and Design at Polo Ralph Lauren. He also oversaw large projects with Bloomingdales, Izod, Mikasa and Starbucks. Since receiving his NCIDQ certification and becoming a licensed Interior Designer in the State of Florida, Michael now works closely with clients through his own company, Studio Powers, to provide extensive resources for interior and architectural design. We are happy to work with him. Check out his portfolio here!
Shop the Look: Sailor + Regatta Grey Bedding, Regatta Grey Pillowcases, Harbor Poppy Blanket, Shapes Poppy Pillow, Maritime Lemon Small Rectangle Pillow
Unison Pillows at Instagram Offices via Geremia Design
Geremia Design is an exciting, young, and innovative interior design firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lauren Geremia graduated from RISD and began her own company, working closely with artists and designers to create art-centered interiors and custom furniture. Her projects, both residential and commercial, mix eclectic and modern materials to create a fun, sophisticated and layered space. The great part about being located in the Bay Area, is that it’s a fertile ground for all those start-up companies like Dropbox, Hightail, and Instagram, which Geremia Design has skillfully outfitted. We were excited when we spotted our Sailor Charcoal and Rope Charcoal pillows in the Instagram offices. Take a look!
Spring Shoot at Zach and Janel’s
Dad Model or Model Dad? Good question! Zach Buchner and Janel Allgeier are such fun people and amazing parents who let us shoot in their home for our Spring catalog. Zach is an artist and educator who creates colorful, textured paintings that are sculptural with plaster and paint layers. He shows with Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Chicago and teaches at Northwestern University. Janel is a Project Development Manager at Grohe America who works closely with architects and interior designers. Together they make a fantastic team with a beautiful home that mixes fun color with sophisticated textures and great modern pieces. We were able to capture some of our favorite images in the context of their home and they were willing to jump right in!
Thanks Zach and Janel for letting us invade your home! Your warmth and talent made it one of our favorite shoots!
Ateenan Aamu
Ateenan Aamu (pronounced ah-teen-ahn a-mu) means Morning in Athens in Finnish. Designed by legendary designer Kaj Franck for Finnish glass company Iittala in 1954, Ateenan Aamu was inspired by a trip to Greece and the beautiful church bells Franck heard while there. At that time, Kaj Franck was artistic director of Finnish design company Arabia, which later became a division of Iittala.
Franck was a was one of the leading figures of Finnish design, the teacher of several generations of professional designers in Finland, and an influential figure in design and applied arts between 1940-1980. The Design Forum Finland awards the yearly Kaj Franck Design Prize to a designer or team of designers working in the spirit of the late Kaj Franck.
Enjoy the sculptural beauty and sound of Ateenan Aamu in your own home today.
Sold at $45 each piece or a set of three for $125.
Design Bureau Recommends…
We love Design Bureau Magazine. It’s a creative publication based in Chicago that focuses on innovative design, architecture, fashion, and all those involved.
The November/December 2013 issue features our Chilote Natural House Shoes. Made with repurposed and up-cycled salmon leather and free range patagonian sheep wool. The salmon skin is soft like suede and extremely flexible. The wool absorbs moisture, repels water, and filters air, allowing your foot to breathe but still stay warm. The wool also has self cleaning capabilities that do not require any industrial additives or processes. They are hand-made by independent and self organizing artisan groups in Chile.
As Seen in Refresh Magazine, Winter 2013
Better Homes and Gardens recently put out a Special Interest Publication called Refresh Magazine. In it, they focus on decorating and lite remodeling projects. Our Sailor Light Pink pillows were part of a fun pillow mix beneath a “thrift store wall art” project in this Winter’s issue. Check it out!