Author: Robert

New-York-New-York-Feature-Image

New York, New York

Posted on Author RobertCategories Get Inspired

In my line of work, it’s wonderful how often the line between business and pleasure gets beautifully blurred. Like during my recent buying trip to the New York Now Market for Home & Lifestyle, where I got to source new pieces, meet new artisans and craftspeople, and – perhaps best of all – connect with many of the vendors that we at Unison already have the pleasure of working with.

Check it out:

Workaday-Handmade

Workaday Handmade was exhibiting some really unique etched, dark stoneware in geometric pattern. I love the contrast of painterly and marbled style with that of geometric pieces.

Also, I noticed the great material play of their plywood backdrop: it really helps the ceramics stand out.

River-Song-Jewelry-Textiles

River Song Jewelry had an amazing textile collection, all limited run and hand made in Mexico of very substantial wool. Look at the great pops of color against the natural wool. Very dimensional and tactile quality.

Areaware

The Areaware booth displayed new colors in Brendan Ravenhill’s magnetic bottle opener. We’re big fans of color here at Unison, and I picture these integrating wonderfully with our Shapes table linens.

Also, the vibe and imagery of their booth was a showpiece: very SoCal summer, modern/relaxed.

Good-Thing

Good Thing! Glad to finally meet Jamie and Sam in person – and see their new line of spun aluminum trays. Very original use of material, and great execution, made in the USA. (Similar to the reasons we already love their undeniably stylish Utility Hand Mirrors.)

Iittala-Vases

Another highlight of the show: these Ruutu vases by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Iittala. These striking pieces are mouth blown and meant to be layered, creating unique color fields and geometric structures.

I love how the vases draw upon Iittala‘s and Nuutajärvi‘s rich history of colored glass from the 50s and 60s.

Matisse-Cut-Out-Exhibit

Beyond the show, it was great to see the body of work at the Matisse cut-out exhibit at MoMA. From early development to the large, full-room environment, it was very impressive.

The paintings are very much like textiles in their color, scale, and repetition. I can see how they influenced Maija Isola of Marimekko in the 60s.

revised

#TBT Valentine’s Day Tokyo

Posted on Author RobertCategories Get Inspired, People
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Robert, 2008

In February 2008 for my birthday, Alicia and I traveled to Tokyo to see the Police in concert on Valentines Day.  Japan in itself is a huge influence for Alicia and I with all the design, fashion, food and culture.  We are also big Police fans and never thought we would see them, let alone in Tokyo.  When I was young, I coveted the film “Police Around the World” documenting their world tour of 1978-80. In the film, they perform in Japan also in February and it was an eyeopener about their fanatic fans and technology of the day (Bullet trains and Sony Walkmans).  It was so exciting to be their 30 years later with Alicia celebrating this special day! So, in celebration of Valentine’s day (and it being Thursday – a day for throwbacks and all that), I dug up some photos from our trip and put together a playlist to go along with it. Enjoy!

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The Police, Tokyo
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Alicia, 2008

Playlist by: Robert Segal

Rotary screens at rest can wake up my creative juices.

Designer’s Eye on Portugal: Photo Journal

Posted on Author RobertCategories Designer's Eye

I took a quick trip to Portugal recently, where I connected with some of our incredible European manufacturers and checked on production for various items in our fall line.

Visiting the factories first hand, I was reminded of these vendors’ extraordinary printing capabilities, which is essential to the appeal of our product line. But their commitment to quality is equally important – a commitment that applies to both the finished product and the entire production process. Most of our vendors produce entirely in house, so they have superior insight into the manufacturing process and excellent oversight of quality control.

As impressed as I was with them and with the beautiful product they’re turning out for next season, I was also struck – as I always am in my travels – with the beauty that’s hidden in every corner of this big world. Everywhere I look, I see inspiration for pattern, color, texture, and product design.

Take a look:

Printing Perfect

Rotary screens at rest can wake up my creative juices.
Rotary screens at rest can wake up my creative juices
Printing the Floats pattern
Printing the Float pattern
Cotton, stored and at-the-ready for printing
Cotton ready for printing
Loving the float pattern in graphite
Loving the Float pattern in graphite
Mounds of quality material, in expert hands for sorting and inspection
Mounds of quality material, in expert hands for sorting and inspection

Towel Tales

And you thought making a Logan towel was easy...
You thought making a Logan towel was easy?
First: Pick a color. Any color. (Hmm. Such symmetry! A grid + dot design might be in our future...)
First, pick a color… any color
It takes 6 hours for 2 people to set up the warp beam!
It takes 6 hours for 2 people to set up the warp beam!
Then the weaving begins.
Then the weaving begins.
During the washing phase, these huge tubs of towels go right into the washer
During the washing phase, these huge tubs of towels go right into the washer
Almost done. Portugal is known for high-quality terry manufacturing. These inspectors sure know what they're doing.
Portugal is known for high-quality terry manufacturing. These inspectors sure know what they’re doing.
Finally ready to ship! Our Logan towels are organic, highly absorbent, & will last many years.
Our Logan towels are organic, highly absorbent, & will last many years…and they’re finally ready to ship!

Crazy for Cutipol…

Cutipol is the premiere flatware factory in Portugal, and we're working with them this year as we start to offer high-quality flatware.
Cutipol is the premiere flatware factory in Portugal. And this year, we’re working with them as we start to offer high-quality flatware.
These knife & spoon patterns look like they might want to get translated to textiles...
These knife & spoon patterns look like they might want to get translated to textile…
True craftsmanship
True craftsmanship
Stamping molds = more pattern inspiration
Stamping molds = more pattern inspiration
Looks like I'll have to get my sketchbook out...
Looks like I’ll have to get my sketchbook out again. Even the machines around here are inspiring.

… and for all of Portugal

Who needs framed art when the side of a building in Cascais is this beautiful?
Who needs framed art when the side of a building in Cascais is this beautiful?
Wouldn't a Logan towel look nice on their line?
Wouldn’t a Logan towel look nice on their line?
You've gotta love Portuguese tile work
You’ve gotta love Portuguese tile work
And a lovely walk back at the end of the day.
A beautiful walk back at the end of the day
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Kastehelmi by Oiva Toikka Celebrates 50 Years

Posted on Author RobertCategories People

This year I really wanted to bring out Kastehelmi as one of our featured items in tableware at Unison. Not only because it is one of my personal favorites having grown up with it, but also because we love the designer, Oiva Toikka and wanted to honor his famous design, Kastehelmi (dew pearls in Finnish) as it celebrates it’s 50th year in production. I selected blue because it is a new color and it brings about that feeling of water and it complimented so well the Aerial cobalt table linens we developed with Chicago artist Stephen Eichhorn. We hope that those who purchase these seemingly simple blue glass plates and bowls will enjoy them for serving a special dessert or as a beautiful gift set for a marrying couple. They will last for ages and endure trends for generations to come.

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Oiva is truly an icon in glass design, someone we should all be aware of. His work spans from glass, ceramic, art pieces, costume design for operas and so much more. We had the extreme pleasure, Alicia and I, of getting to know him a little bit while we lived in Finland and worked at Marimekko from 1999-2004. You can watch and listen to Oiva in this video piece by Iittala, which I think is quite special because it reveals Oiva’s personality so well, a true artist and a wonderful person indeed.

C&B10yr

Crate&Barrel Celebrates 50 Years!

Posted on Author RobertCategories Get Inspired, People
Crate&Barrel, Oakbrook store 1972

With great pride, I want to congratulate my parents, Gordon and Carole Segal for creating and sustaining Crate&Barrel, now celebrating 50 years this day!  Surrounding themselves with creative and talented people along the way, they executed their passion for good design at affordable prices. Their inspiration came from the beautiful products around the world, from vendors like Torben Ørskov of Denmark, Armi Raitia of Marimekko Finland, and Bernt Dibbern of Germany. Their staff of Barbara Turf, Lon Habkirk, Tom Shortlidge, Raymond Arenson and countless others, all equally shared their passion and without them would not have created the strong company that exists today. Now under the current direction of Marta Calle and the Otto Group, cheers to another 50 years of success and great design in people’s homes and lives!