Dec 20

Dec 20 The W+ Design: Vitra Pops Up / Hong Kong

Art and Design, Architecture and Interior

On Friday, our studio was invited by Arnault Castel, founder of the curated design shop, Kapok, to his newest test-venture- a collaboration with Swiss design manufacturer Vitra, for their pop-up shop in Central Hong Kong’s Landmark shopping arcade. Even if one is not really well versed in design, or design is not a part of their profession- almost everyone knows a Vitra-product, either because it’s in their office already, or they or their friends have an item at home. That said, it’s not as democratic and economic as IKEA - Vitra furnitures and design goods are really Design with the capital “D”- that are well made, meant to last forever, and with prices that are within reach of most design lovers and consumers- as the items are already built, checked, and passed QC in Vitra factories prior to shipment.

Vitra Pop-Up in Central Hong Kong. Photo by JJ Acuna.

Vitra, a family owned company, remains much in spirit with how the company began in 1950 when founder Willi Fehlbaum spotted a chair designed by Mid-Cenury Modernist masters, Ray and Charles Eames in the US. After establishing a friendship with the design duo, Felhbaum and the Eames created more works together to fabricate a range designs for anyone and everyone who wanted furnitures that were aesthetically modern, long-lasting, different, and most importantly, useful.

In keeping with the spirit of the original Eames collaboration, Vitra works together with many design masters to “author” new objects and pieces for work and home. The pieces do not go to market unless perfect- which can sometimes take many years in research and development at the Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein.

Vitra authors include design offerings from Tadao Ando, Ron Arad, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Alexander Girard, Zaha Hadid, and Isamu Noguchi- among many others. The Pop-Up of Vitra items will be in Hong Kong until mid-Spring 2021- which then they will decide if Vitra deserves a more permanent fixture in the city.

Oh and before you think you can just get most of these iconic items on Taobao or Aliexpress- ie. fakes online- just know that real Vitra products are designed and developed in Switzerland and fabricated and sourced in Germany and surrounding EU territories. You may find more information on fabrication here.