/EIN Presswire.com/ June 2010: Rodarte, the celebrated American fashion house of Kate and Laura Mulleavy, has created five upholstery and three drapery patterns for Knoll Luxe. This collection, Rodarte’s first collaboration with Knoll, is an abstract translation of Rodarte’s runway inspirations throughout its last 5 years.
Rodarte is characterized by exquisite craftsmanship, precise detailing, and creative innovation.
“Since its inception, Knoll has worked with cutting-edge designers — from Eero Saarinen to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe,” says Knoll Luxe creative director Dorothy Cosonas. “Collaborating with Rodarte, arguably the most innovative voice in the fashion world today, furthers Knoll’s rich tradition.”
The color palette for the Rodarte for Knoll Luxe collection was developed by Kate and Laura Mulleavy and includes a myriad of hues including ice blue, plum, wheat, fawn, and royal navy. Each unique design in this collection is named in homage to Kate and Laura’s favorite poets including E. E. Cummings, John Keats, W. H. Auden, and Dorothy Parker.
The challenge of translating fashion fabrics into textiles suitable for the interior has pushed Cosonas into truly innovative directions through the discovery of new mills, new constructions and new technologies. The result is a stunning collection of fabrics that are unique in the market.
The Rodarte Collection represents Knoll Luxe’s first introduction of drapery. With its large bands of sweeping color, Auden is inspired by Rodarte’s classic hand dyed ombre gowns from spring-summer 2009. The fabric’s shaded effect is created using digital printing on a woven raffia ground. Available in 4 colorways. (53% ramie, 47% polyester)
Emerson, with a series of embroidered studs on sheer ground, is a highly innovative drapery interpretation of a runway fabric with sequined and beaded armor-like sleeves. Available in 3 colors. The text “Rodarte for Knoll Luxe” is embroidered in the selvedge edge. (70% rayon, 30% polyester)
Parker, the third drapery, features various textured threads suspended between layers of gauze, creating an ethereal look. It inspired by knitwear from fall-winter 2008. Available in 3 colorways. (46% polyester, 32% viscose, 6% lurex, 5% cotton, 11% linen)
Byron creates texture through a unique shrink yarn technique. Inspired by the fall-winter 2008 collection, this fabric is reminiscent of ink spreading throughout water. Available in 4 colorways. (28% cotton, 26% silk, 24% polyester, 22% acrylic)
Cummings, a large scale upholstery fabric inspired by the fall-winter 2008 collection, uses the interplay of matte and shiny yarns to create a tonal, organic pattern. Available in 4 colorways. (63% cotton, 37%silk)
The upholstery fabric Keats, with embroidered tone-on-tone raised nailheads, employs a unique hand-guided embroidery technique, highly unusual in the interiors market. Available in 4 colorways. (52% cotton, 48% viscose)
Whitman, inspired by Rodarte’s knit dresses from fall-winter 2009, is a classic heavy-textured wool with an organic quality. The innovative textile appears hand woven, but is extremely durable. Available in 4 colorways. (78% wool, 18% viscose, 4% nylon)
Lowell is a sumptuous upholstery fabric made of mohair. This inviting, touchable fabric features a lengthy, loopy pile and subtle color palate. Available in 4 colorways. (48% mohair, 42% pure new wool, 10% nylon)
Several of the Rodarte for Knoll Luxe designs have been chosen for the permanent collection at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.
Knoll Luxe and its sister company, KnollTextiles, will be opening their first residential showroom this March in the D&D building in New York. Rodarte for Knoll Luxe marks Knoll’s second designer collaboration, the first with Proenza Schouler in 2008. The Knoll Luxe line was originated in 2008 by Dorothy Cosonas, who designed the first collection for the brand.
About Knoll Luxe
Knoll Luxe, a luxury fabric division of Knoll, Inc., maintains a marketing and design studio at 76 Ninth Avenue, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011. For distribution and customer information, call 866-565-5858 or www.knoll-luxe.com.
Press Contact:
Knoll Luxe
Andrea Loukin
718-230-8032
andrea.loukin@verizon.net
Black Frame (for Rodarte)
Juliana Ribeiro
212 226 2196
jribeiro@framenoir.com