Dressed Tabletop Collection by Marcel Wanders

Dressed Tabletop Collection by Marcel Wanders

Dressed Dinnerware Detail

Alessi of Italy recently announced a new collaboration with Marcel Wanders on a series of Dinnerware, Flatware and Glassware entitled “Dressed.” Mr. Wanders has been a notable designer since his beginnings with Droog Design many moons ago. Since that time he has morphed into Wanders Wonders, Moooi, and has done numerous designs for notable firms such as Flos, Target and the like. During that time he has been lauded by most every magazine known to man.

But enough about him. Let’s talk about product.

Overall, Alessi as a company has been focused on finding and developing up and coming young designers. So despite all of the fame and fortune Mr. Wanders has produced only one design for Alessi, the Wunderkammer, for the miniatures. (Another overlooked designer was Karim Rashid. More about him next time.)

Wunderkammer by Marcel Wanders (Alessi, 2010)

Wanders has a lot of product design under his belt, and it tends to stray into fashion in addition to function, often with incorporation of archaic/vintage motif. Wanders is past the design tchotchkes career point- when he introduces something the press takes notice. At this later stage in his career, therefore, the only direction Wanders could go with Alessi was a large statement such as the Dressed pattern.

Dressed Collection by Marcel Wanders

The Dressed Collection is a full introduction by Alessi consisting of dinnerware, flatware and glassware. The overall design is traditional with a modern twist or vice versa. The dinnerware is porcelain with fluted rims and relief decoration. The flatware has a similar engraved motif , and the stemware looks vintage. The end result is a collection that would look equally good in a traditional or modern setting- at a price ($36 per dinner plate) that would be excellent for every day or special occasion use. Material-wise, we’re talking porcelain at 18/10 stainless steel, so microwave and dishwashers are a-OK.

Wanders is one of the few designers continually working in the grey area between traditional and modern design- blending motifs with new manufacturing processes and materials.

Paola Navone, Neo-Traditionalist?

Another excellent designer in a similar vein (with very little name recognition) is Paola Navone. You can view her collections with Gervasoni (also available from Unicahome) here. Make sure to check out her signature Blue work.

Dressed will be shipping Spring 2011. NOW ACCEPTING ADVANCE ORDERS.

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