Design brands beat copycats at their own game, Virgin sets its sights on rail travel between London and Europe, and a mechanical bird puts Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn shop at odds. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Are design brands duping themselves?
The Liber-tea Kettle, a commemorative edition of the 9093 kettle by Michael Graves; photo courtesy of Alessi
Are design manufacturers at an impasse, or are they innovating? With the knockoff market as robust as ever, and brands like Quince and RH replicating high-end furnishings that cost less, some brands are simply embracing “the dupe,” as Diana Budds puts it in her write-up for Dwell. Danish brand OMHU is one maker who took the novel approach of releasing a more affordable variation of a product from its own catalog. For shoppers not inclined to drop $2,000 on the popular Teddy sofa, OMHU introduced Tedy, a riff on the design, for $799.99. Not only that, but they also dropped the item for sale on e-tailers like Temu, Etsy, and dupe.com, and they sold out in minutes. Rocco also sells a version of its signature fridge, with a model available for nearly $1,000 less than its more in-demand design. Late designer Michael Graves even made a cheaper, $350 reinterpretation of his renowned 9093 kettle for Alessi. Temporary solutions aside, what customers are willing to spend versus what it costs to produce high-quality furniture built to last remains a fraught dynamic—just ask the folks at Be Original Americas. Hopefully not too many shoppers have to learn the hard way that just because materials and construction appear to mirror a more upscale counterpart doesn’t mean the piece stands up where it counts.
Virgin reveals plans for high-speed trains
Rendering courtesy of Virgin Group
Richard Branson’s plan for world domination continues, and this time, he’s taking the train! Virgin Group is now set to operate high-speed trains between the UK and continental Europe beginning in 2030, Afar reports. Competing with Eurostar, Virgin trains would travel via the 31-mile Channel Tunnel to offer service between London and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. With British regulators’ approval, the company plans to operate up to 20 round trips a day, adding a whopping 7.5 million seats to the market annually. Manufactured by Alstom, the high-speed trains will be constructed in Italy and streamlined to travel at a maximum speed of 186 miles per hour. Design details are scarce, but renderings tout Virgin’s signature touchpoints with sleek modern interiors redolent of Virgin Voyages. Branson wins again!
Major Food Group backs a new Miami market
Rendering courtesy of Wilder
Erewhon eat your heart out. The F&B kings of Major Food Group are again expanding their empire by backing a new market concept in the Magic City. Set to open this fall, Wilder will combine a full-service grocery store with a café in a nearly 8,000-square-foot space designed by Love Lake Studio. Inc. reports that the store will carry close to 4,000 products—from pantry staples to fresh produce and responsibly sourced seafood. Locally based restaurant group Grassfed Culture Hospitality will oversee the market’s culinary program, featuring chef-prepared meals from the team behind Michelin-starred eateries Los Félix and Krüs Kitchen. Shoppers will get to choose from more than 150 grab-and-go recipes, including made-to-order sandwiches, rotating salads, hot and cold dishes, and options for coffee, smoothies, natural wine, and fresh bread.
Kelly Clarkson vs. Art of Play
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A Brooklyn toy store called Art of Play has been thrust into the national spotlight by none other than Kelly Clarkson. On October 10th, the vocal powerhouse and talk show host posted on social media about an ill-fated visit to the shop, where she was denied the purchase of a bird figurine. After her social media post went viral, the store fired back that the crank-operated bird named Molly was not for sale and that staff even offered to sell Clarkson an identical bird before she departed. To determine whether Clarkson unrightfully doxed a small business or if ownership really was as “condescending” as the singer claimed, Gothamist paid a visit to Art of Play. Co-owner Adam Rubin told reporters that he and his colleagues were in fear for their lives after harassment on social media, even though the popularity has driven Molly’s asking price up to $15 million (not a typo). Call me crazy, but if Kelly Clarkson walked into my store and asked to buy my most popular item on display, I think I just might sell it to her. For now, toy store owners who already have millions of dollars in their bank account will live to fight another day.
Don’t miss these sessions at BDNY!
Photo by Capshr
In case your agenda for BDNY is still TBD, consider these sessions. On Sunday November 8th, Boutique Design editor in chief Alissa Ponchione will sit down for a one-on-one with Marcel Wanders to learn about his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons that shaped him, and what he envisions for the future. Also on Sunday, Lindsay Keir of II by IV Design will moderate “From Aesthetics to Experience: The New Role of Design” with Victor Schmick of Davidson Hospitality Group, Huxley Hogeboom of Left Lane Development, and Amy Fothergill of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. The day will conclude with “The Future of Hospitality: A Global Journey from Japan to Bhutan, Paris, Copenhagen, and the Arctic Circle,” led by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) partner Kai-Uwe Bergmann. On Monday morning, November 9th, don’t miss Daniel Scovill of Arcsine moderate “Is Fine Dining Dead? Rethinking the Modern Restaurant Experience” alongside Cori Tahara of MINA Group and Ashley Wilkins of Islyn Studio. Later that day, Beth Bloom of Beth Bloom Designs will lead “The Future of F&B: Design, Brand, and Cultural Relevance in Hospitality” with industry titans Sara Kim of LDV Hospitality, Will Nazar of Major Food Group, Susan Nugraha of Tao Group Hospitality, and Michael Stillman of Quality Branded. Still not registered? Click here. See you at the Javits Center!