The Rhythm of Valextra
The Rhythm of Valextra
The kinetic installation in collaboration with Isabel + Helen for Salone del Mobile 2023
As a largest trade fair for furniture design in the world, Salone del Mobile has always been the benchmark event for design and furnishing. After three years of hiatus, downsizing and rescheduling due to global health crisis, Salone del Mobile is finally back to its original schedule. As the scale also returns to normal, Salone del Mobile and the city of Milan is ready to welcome international visitors and design lovers to come back for this mega design fiesta.
Not only do design studios and furniture brands revel in this most acclaimed and anticipated global fair, fashion brands also love to surprise the publics and their clients with exceptional installation arts in collaboration with design firms and artists. As a pioneering Italian luxury leather goods brand born in Milan’s Piazza San Babila, Valextra will not miss the chance to be part of this design carnival. In this edition of Salone del Mobile, Valextra collaborates with London-based design duo Isabel + Helen on an installation The Rhythm of Valextra, rendering kinetic experience of our foundations in engineering beauty.
Throughout many decades of the its existence, Valextra’s identity has intertwined with the spirit of Milan. It is not surprising that the brand’s constant inspiration is the city look: from non-trivial architectural combinations and inimitable elegance, to the celebration of engineering beauty to conceive meaningful everyday objects of desire. With Isabel + Helen’s unique and precise vision, Valextra’s distinctive approach of combining function with beauty unfold in front of the viewers eyes. With the kinetic installation, Isabel + Helen tells the story of Valextra, exploring the mechanism and materials chasing simplification and transformation of complex ideas into readable and understandable meanings. Their love for analog design processes transforms Valextra’s perspective and methods into a dynamic exhibition. Successively on different levels from pattern making and technical tools to brushes for hand-painting the signature Costa black lacquered edging the installation symbioses spontaneity and sobriety.
The Rhythm of Valextra kinetic installation and multi-sensory experience is exhibited in Valextra’s Milan flagship store, on Via Manzoni 3, during Salone del Mobile 2023.
Text: Yves Tsou, Anna Kovaleva
The Reinvention of Neels Visser
jacket, trousers & sneakers LOUIS VUITTON, bracelets PEYOTE BIRD, ring MAPLE, earring EMANUELE BICOCCHI
(left) hoody GIVENCHY, shorts NEIL BARRETT, sneakers LOUIS VUITTON, socks FALKE, necklace & earrings EMANUELE BICOCCHI, necklaces & bracelets PEYOTE BIRD, MAPLE
(right) bracelets & necklaces MAPLE, bracelet EMANUELE BICOCCHI
sweater, jeans & sneakers DOLCE & GABBANA, socks FALKE, necklace & bracelets PEYOTE BIRD
top DOLCE & GABBANA, trousers & shoes N°21, necklace & bracelet MAPLE, bracelet EMANUELE BICOCCHI
shorts LOEWE, boots GIANVITO ROSSI, rings MAPLE, bracelets PEYOTE BIRD
(left) pants DSQUARED2, boots CALVIN KLEIN 205W39NYC, sunglasses CHRISTIAN DIOR, bracelet, necklace & rings MAPLE, bracelet PEYOTE BIRD, necklace & earrings EMANUELE BICOCCHI
(right) shirt & trousers FENDI, pullover & sneakers TOMMY HILFIGER, necklace & bracelets PEYOTE BIRD, rings MAPLE, EMANUELE BICOCCHI
Talent: Neels Visser (@neels) @Ford Models (@fordmodels)
Photographer: Roman Varlamov (@theromanvarlamov)
Fashion: Nata Bocha (@iamnatabocha)
Hair: Timur Sadyq (@timursadyq)
Makeup: Dmitry Kukushkin (@makeupbydmitry)
Lighting Tech: Gabriel Montagnani (@thisisgraphene)
Charles Letessier (@charles_letessier)
Fashion Assistant: Alena Alifiruk (@_mroya_)
Model Agency: @fordmodels
Melancholic Barranco
long jumper SAKE, skirt MACALO, blazer stylist’s own, shoes STEVE MADDEN
blouse vintage, skirt & skirt as headscarf PEREGRINA, shoes DR. MARTENS
sweater, skirt & pants ASCENDIA, shoes DR. MARTENS
blouse, skirt & gloves SAKE, shoes PARUOLO
dress & skirt ASCENDIA, shoes ZARA
dress PEREGRINA, shoes PARUOLO
tulle as headscarf stylist’s own, skirt as top, skirt & pants ASCENDIA, shoes PARUOLO
Photographer: Alexander Pérez-Flores (@alexanderdiary)
Art Director & Stylist: Lisseli Santos (@lisselisantos)
Make-up: Adrián Rey (@skinfetish002)
Hair: Karina Sian (@atelier.sian)
Producer: Maria Ignacia Schwalb (@dimenacha)
Photo Asisstant: Diego Rojas (@blackdiegoo)
Model: Yamel Quiñonez (@yamel_quinonez) @TTAG connect (@ttagtoconnect)
Beyond Beliefs
top LAMA JOUNI, skirt CHRISTOPHER ESBER
dress NANUSHKA
(left) dress CULT GAIA, shoes L37 (right) dress CULT GAIA, shoes vintage
(left) dress CULT GAIA, shoes L37 (right) dress CULT GAIA, shoes vintage
dress NANUSHKA
Photography: Jakub Pleśniarski (@jakubplesniarski)
Styling: Karol Młodziński (@karolmlodzinski)
Make-up: Aga Wilk (@agawilkmakeup)
Hair: Adrian Własiuk (@adrianwlasiuk)
Set Design: Piotr Piwowar (@dzikidzik)
Post Production: ColorWorkz (@colorworkz)
Model: Glory Olatunji
Dark Side of the Moon
dress BALENCIAGA
dress BALMAIN
dress & gloves MARIJA MARKOVIC
dress ATELIER INDIGO, boots SCHUTZ
dress JIAGI SHEN, boots SCHUTZ
skirt LIZU VEGA, skirt ATELIER INDIGO
Photography & Art Direction: Tommy Chung (@tommychungphotography)
Styling: Waina Chancy (@wainachancy)
Make-up & Hair: Bea Diaz (@beadiazmiami) @Exclusive Artists using MAC Cosmetics
Model: Skarla Ali (@skarla_ali) @Select Models
(untitled) studioberlin
total look stylist’s own
dress MINA HANIM, shoes stylist’s own
dress with hood MINA HANIM, shoes stylist’s own
total look stylist’s own
total look stylist’s own
Photography: Tim Löbbert (@timloebbert)
Styling: Pauline Romy (@romy.pauline)
Hair & Make-Up: Nicola Kurdziel (@nicolakurdziel)
Model: Paola Ming (@paola.ming)
She Is a Kumiho? Hanja: 九尾狐
knit GENES, pants with laces DELOSANTOS
bra & dress DELOSANTOS, shoes DESIGNIO
Peruvian religious object as bra DELOSANTOS, dress as skirt GENES
blazer DELOSANTOS, earrings DESIGNIO
Photography: Paolo Rally (@paolorally)
Art Direction & Styling: Marte Diaz (@amartediaz), Fabrizio Ricciardi (@_san.serif), Valeria Bustamante (@valeria_killa)
Make-up: Cristina Uceda (@makeupcristina)
Hair: Sken (@sken___)
Production: TTAG (@ttagtoconnect)
Model: Camille Reiss (@camillereiss)
Shameless
cap DANAE MARRA
top MSGM, shorts EMANUELE D’ALESSANDRO, shoes FORBITCHES, rings DANS LES RUES
top, bra & fur hat stylist’s own, skirt & belt DEFAIENCE, rings DANS LES RUES
total look DIESEL, earrings DEFAIENCE
top & pants LAVINIA GAUDIELLO, shoes BOTTEGA VENETA, bag FORBITCHES
total look VERSACE
Photography: Francesco D’Amico (@francescod.amico)
Creative Direction: Federica Centonze, Matilde Cafaro
Styling: Federica Centonze (@centif)
Production: Matilde Cafaro (@itstornado_)
Make-up: Filippo Ferrari (@filippoferrarimk)
Hair: Davide Perfetti (@davideperfetti_)
Photo Assistant: Nunzia Marzano (@nunziamarzano_)
Styling Assistant: Linda Mantovani (@lindorrrrrrr)
Make-up Assistant: Maria Grazia Arcese (@mariagraziaarcese_mua)
Hair Assistant: Alicia Lanzi (@alicia.lanzi)
Talent: Victoria Stella Doritou (@thevictoriastella)
Have You Been Here Before?
top & belt LOUIS VUITTON, skirt & jacket LACOSTE, earring OLE LYNGAARD
total look CHANEL
dress LOEWE, pants TOOS FRANKEN, socks WOLFORD, shoes PRADA
total look RAF SIMONS
total look PRADA
cap STAND STUDIO, dress CELINE
skirt TOOS FRANKEN, blazer ANN DEMEULEMEISTER
top, belt & shoes LOUIS VUITTON, skirt & jacket LACOSTE, earring OLE LYNGAARD, socks FALKE
skirt TOOS FRANKEN
total look PRADA
Photography: Oriane Verstraeten (@orianeverstraeten_)
Styling: Vincent van Laeken (@vincentvlaeken)
Hair & Make-up: Sanne Schoofs (@sanneschoofs)
Photography Assistant: Sieme Hermans (@_sieme)
Model: Eline Bocxtaele (@elinebocxtaele)