Fendi & Formafantasma

For the first time, FENDI is bringing its Design Performance program to Design Miami/Basel. They invited designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of the Italian design studio Formafantasma to develop the installation ‘CRAFTICA‘, a new body of work exploring leathercraft (with discarded Fendi leather) in conversation with other hand-worked, natural materials.

The leathers have been paired with marble, oxidized metal, glass, wood and other unprocessed natural materials such as bones, shells and a sponge cultivated in a sea-farm as a substitute for industrial foam. The installation displays a large variety of objects ranging from tools to furniture: a collection of glass lights hung via belts and hooks; a table and room divider produced from vegetal tanned rawhide stretched over brass structures with marble weights; a series of four stools characterized by organic forms and fin-like legs upholstered in fish leather (salmon, perch, trout, wolffish); spoons and protective masks made with scallopshells; and, jar-like containers in glass and cow bladders.

As homage to leather, 28 handmade drawings are displayed on parchment (a strong paper obtained by a complex processing of hairless goat skin) portraying the many uses of leather throughout history. During the fair in Basel, the designers in collaboration with in-house FENDI craftsmen, will produce and add new pieces to the installation.

To be viewed at : DESIGN MIAMI/ BASEL, HALL 5, MESSE BASEL, MESSEPLATZ  4005 BASEL, SWITZERLAND / TUESDAY, 12 JUNE TO SUNDAY 17 JUNE  DAILY FROM 11AM-7PM