The best new brands launched at the Salone del Mobile 2012

Wooden cabinet with circle designs on doors
Cabinet by Danish architect Børge Mogensen, reissued by Stellar Works and inlaid with a slashed-o character by font foundry House Industries Stellar Works Stellar Works is a new Shanghai-based furniture brand on a mission to bridge cultural divides. Launched locally at the end of 2011 and internationally at the Salone, its collections bring together the design heritage of its French and Japanese founders, with that of Danish design consultancy OeO (creative directed by former Wallpaper* interiors editor Thomas Lykke). The result is a beautifully made and cleverly detailed body of unique pieces. There are also some pleasing reissues, by Danish architects Børge Mogensen and Vilhelm Wohlert. Stellar Works has just opened its first shop in Shanghai, with another expected in Kyoto in June. www.stellarworks.com
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Milan's Salone del Mobile in April was packed with fresh-out-of-the-factory products conceived by the world's best known designers and produced by the world's best known manufacturers. But even more arousing than the A-listers were the unknown talents making their Salone debuts for the first time. Here, we bring you our pick of 2012's best new brands...

Writing desk

Writing desk by OeO, in collaboration with historic French furniture maker Laval, for Stellar Works

(Image credit: TBC)

Beech dining table with two grey tub chairs

Nordic design and ‘Chinese poetry’ are melded in the Lunar collection by Space Cph for Stellar Works

(Image credit: TBC)

Two wooden chairs, one with pedestal base

‘Vito’ and ‘Donna’ chairs by Japanese designer Shuwa Tei for Stellar Works

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Brightly coloured stackable stools

'Last Stool' chairs by Max Lamb for Discipline

Discipline

Discipline, a new Italian design brand founded by Renato Preti, formerly of Skitsch, lassoed 14 designers from 10 countries to create furniture and accessories in natural materials including cork, bamboo, wood, glass and eco upholstering. The company debuted with an event and installation created by Rome-based Arabeschi di Latte in Milan.

www.discipline.eu

(Image credit: TBC)

Wooden bench and two stools

'Drifted' chairs by Lars Beller for Discipline

(Image credit: TBC)

Three desk lamps with black shades

'Companion' lamps by SmithMatthias for Discipline

(Image credit: TBC)

Two tone chairs in green, red, purple and beige

'Two Tone Chair' chairs by Ichiro Iwasaki for Discipline

(Image credit: TBC)

Wooden ladder leaning against wall

'Tilt' ladder by SmithMatthias for Discipline

(Image credit: TBC)

Lime green and purple stools

'Tag Stool' chairs by Ichiro Iwasaki for Discipline

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Round wooden clock with red hands

'Pieces of Time' watch by Ding 3000 for Discipline

(Image credit: TBC)

Dining chair with square frame legs

Dining chair by Jacob Pringiers for A Plus

A Plus

Already aiming for top grades with its name, A Plus launched with a refined collection, pieces of which have already somehow found their way into the Pringiers House in Sri Lanka by Ando Tadao (winner of the Wallpaper* Design Award for best private house). The premise behind the new label is to combine the best of Belgian and Italian design - a 'no nonsense' and comfortable design language that is elegant, harmonious and timeless.

www.aplus.lk

(Image credit: TBC)

Wooden dining chair with square frame legs

Dining chair by Jacob Pringiers for A Plus

(Image credit: TBC)

Dining table with blue top and wooden legs

'Magnum' dining table by Pierre Favresse for La Chance

La Chance

Two precocious entrepreneurs, Louise Breguet and Jean-Baptiste Souletie, have launched La Chance, a new French design company featuring the work of young international designers that debuted at MOST. Among the line-up are Pierre Favresse, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Luca Nichetto, Note Design Studio and Jonah Takagi. The designs are all articulated in sober natural form, as well as a more colourful vibrant version. 'We're bored with plastic things and flashy stuff,' explains Souletie. 'And at the same time, we didn't want to conceptualise design. This is a commercial enterprise, not an art gallery.'

www.lachance.fr

(Image credit: TBC)

Stool with 4 solid log legs held together by a contrasting metal ring.

'Bolt' stools by Note Design Studio for La Chance

(Image credit: TBC)

Sculptural stool that combines a wood and metal body with a solid cork seat

'Tembo' stool by Note Design Studio for La Chance

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Blue sculptural console/credenza

'Rocky' credenza by Charles Kalpakian for La Chance

(Image credit: TBC)

Black circular rug with white pouf

'Clew' rug and pouf by Sjoerd Jonkers for New Duivendrecht

New Duivendrecht

Amsterdam based designers Frederik Roijé and Victor le Noble launched New Duivendrecht in Milan with a dedicated focus on providing sustainable, affordable, high quality Dutch design. Assembling a new batch of up and coming Dutch design talents and a selection of Dutch manufacturers, the new company is named after an imaginary village - a place ‘where the beautiful and clever interior products are designed'.

www.newduivendrecht.com

(Image credit: TBC)

Blue steel dining chair

'Hensen' chair by Kranen/ Gille for New Duivendrecht

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Desk lamp and hanging lamp with black and white shades

'The Polar Lamp' lamps by Dave Keune for New Duivendrecht

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White candelabra and fruit bowls

'Light bowl' candelebra and fruitbowl by Tweelink for New Duivendrecht

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Cot day bed with sliding head rest


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Cot day bed with fur mattress

'Cot' day bed by Alexander May for Nilufar Unlimited

Nilufar Unlimited

Though Nilufar is one of Milan’s best known limited edition design galleries, owner Nina Yashar has now partnered with Giancarlo Montebello to offer a series of reproducible objects for the first time. Titled ‘Unlimited.com’, the project features the work of architects, designers and visual artists, all of which are available online.

Unlimited.nilufar.com

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Orange and white Wallpaper design for Nilufar Unlimited

Wallpaper by Das Institut for Nilufar Unlimited

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Floor lamp consisting of three brass rods and sphere of opaline blown glass

'Tree in the Moonlight' light by Michael Anastassiades for Nilufar Unlimited

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Beechwood thronet type chair with black seat

'Postmundus' chair by Martino Gamper for Nilufar Unlimited

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Set of six black lacquered paper pot containers with lids

'Lacquered Paper-Pots' containers by Nendo for Nilufar Unlimited

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Set of epoxy and resin tables made of connected rectangles

‘Histogram’ coffee tables by Nucleo for Nilufar Unlimited

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Blown glass hanging lamp

'Nido' light by Paola Petrobelli for Nilufar Unlimited

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W-shaped aluminum bookshelf on wall

'Transitory Bookshelf' by Robert Stadler for Nilufar Unlimited

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Frame reading chair with pink padding


(Image credit: Pixelgarten, Frankfurt)

Side view of Frame reading chair with pink padding

'Frame' seat by Florian Hauswirth for Stattmann Neue Moebel

Stattmann Neue Moebel

Stattman Neue Moebel is a new wood-based furniture company launched by fourth generation cabinetmakers Nicola and Oliver Stattmann. The Ascheberg based siblings tapped two young design teams to work exclusively with local wood for two chairs and two shelving units. The duo’s concept is to keep prices low and to distribute the product themselves via e-commerce.

Stattmann-neuemoebel.com

Photography: Pixelgarten, Frankfurt

(Image credit: Pixelgarten, Frankfurt)

Three tier bookshelf


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Connecting joint on bookshelf

'Plug' shelf by Steffen Kehrle for Stattmann Neue Mobel

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lightweight, stackable chair made of solid wood

'Profile' chair by Slyvain Willenz for Stattmann Neue Mobel

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Grey wall mounted desk with two shelves above

'Unit' shelf by Marina Bautier for Stattmann Neue Mobel

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Handcrafted wooden bowl shaped like block of wood

'Wooden bowl 08' by Usuals

Usuals

Another hot new label from the flatlands is Usuals, a collaboration between Niels Van Eijk and Miriam Van der Lubbe. The new products and accessories are sold directly through the website, keeping prices reasonable and also allowing the designers to better connect with their customers. All the products come complete with inspiring stories, told with production details and sketches via pictures and film online.

www.usuals.nl

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Baretta shaped leather shoulder bag

'Me and My Beretta' shoulder bag by Usuals

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Red T-shirt with whiteboard centre

Whiteboard T-shirt by Usuals

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Cup and saucer with reproduced golden stains

'Golden Dirt' cup and saucer by Usuals

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Silver teapot with white felt cover

Teapot by Usuals

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Black chair with single, continuous curve from the back legs through to the backrest, arm and front legs

'Melt' chair by K%

K% 

The ultra prolific Wallpaper* Design Award winner Nendo launched its first collection as art director of new brand K% - a body of work that it has approached with the same exacting standards and clean design aesthetic as it does all its output. With contributions also from Singaporean designers Studio Juju and Exit Design, the ‘Black & Black’ collection is – in case you didn’t get it – all in black, so that nothing detracts from its sleek forms.

www.kpercent.com

(Image credit: TBC)

Black tilt table

'Tilt' table by K%

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Trellis

'Scissors' by K%

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Set of four black square tables with steel tube legs

'Heavy' by K%

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Black box lamps

'Gather' by K%

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Wall clock

'Corners' by K%

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Cubicles for storage

'Brace' by K%

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Black woven screen

'Weave' by K%

(Image credit: TBC)
JJ Martin

JJ Martin

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