Twiice Group has been contacted by the well-known design brand, Magis, to be exclusive suppliers for Sub-Saharan Africa - and we are excited to announce that we have accepted their offer.This partnership is certainly one that will extend Twiice Group to a new level - and opens doors for our clients with regards to choice, enabling Twiice to give the best of service to existing clients both Magis and Twiice Group.Magis, an Italian company, is a brand that gives a novel twist two domestic design, having built its identity on incorporating leading edge technology into mass production. Founded in 1976 by Eugenio Perazza, Magis is today a giant international design laboratory that constantly puts itself to the test. With leading designers such as Richard Sapper, Jasper Morrison, Marc Newson, Ron Arad and many more, Magis channels towards objects perched ont eh cutting edge.Popular products such as the Chair One, Easy Chair, Steelwood Chair and of course the lovable Puppy, are what makes Magis such a lovable and respected name - and Twiice are excited about welcoming the brand into the company and culture.
Twiice Group Exclusive Suppliers to Magis
Football Frenzy!!
I love football, I could be perceived as being football mad! The energy in this country is fantastic, the sound of the vuvuzela’s is the sound of South Africa. Those that complain, let them do so - perhaps they do not comprehend. I love the fact that a country - and let us be perfectly honest - that has a very minimal chance of winning the world cup has taken on their tasks of host with such immense fervor. What charm this country and its people have; and to those cynics out there that thought all things veering as though half full were the cup, let the happy positive vibes of this country be the last laugh.Taking on the spirit - and spirit in plenty there is - of the World Cup, we have done some fun and fabulous branding at Twiice. My countries Queen - Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands has merged together with a Bafana Bafana player. I have also branded my LOUD and PROUD Bronco welcoming the Dutch Team, it is fun and its zany and signage these days is the way to go; enjoy!I cannot lie and must admit that my favoured team is The Netherlands (of course), and I feel that this is their year, so watch out for the men in orange! However, I send good luck to all the teams and the main thing is to enjoy the spirit , or as the word seems to be for the 2010 world cup - enjoy the Gees!
A Blast at the Fair!
I came back from the Milan Fair a little later than planned. This however, turned out to be a good turn of events. Normally the fair is so frenetic and you are busy meeting suppliers, looking at the fabulous designs, weaving your way through the masses, networking events, parties - and so at the end you are spinning along with the rest of the visitors at the fairest fair of them all.This year, due to the volcano and the subsequent hold up on all flights, I managed to sit with clients, introduce them to suppliers, show them around factories and so on. It was great to have a breather, and to take it all in. I had some exceptional meetings - very positive, and some great things are going to be happening for the Twiice Group! There are some wonderful new products, will be some exciting new collaborations and all in all - things are moving onwards and upwards!
Twiice Private Label
Twiice Private Label uses and appreciates the vast creative pool that exists in South Africa - the label aims to develop design and embrace the countries diverse culture. Its ethos is based on sustainability! The label, that sees quite vividly craft as being design, is both ecological and aesthetically charming. The products have a cultural history and a story of its path - they are pieces imbued with local pride, and acknowledge human beings through job creation. The impact the products have on our planet is a factor that is inherent in thought; Twiice Private Label is design for the environment and is considerate of where it came from and certainly of where it is going.
Designers for Twiice Private Label Ewaldi Grove and Danielle Ehrlich do not adhere to conformity, but they approach each product with a fresh mind, every design and project is absolutely unique - they work by interpreting their surroundings, the moment and so following the brief they conclude with something that is absolutely unique, fun and experimental.
Twiice Private Label embraces the beauty of design with thought, the purity that evolves into formation and thus to vivid change!
Design Indaba
I enjoyed the Design Indaba this year, certainly more than last. Yes, it was still rather crafty but I found that we had veered a bit more inot designer confidence at last making initiative of doing what it was they simply wanted to do. I love that the Indaba is design in all spheres and embraces all aspects; clothes, jewelry, product, magazines, craft, fabric, art and we could go on.A few stands did stand out for me, but the one that I fell in love with was the stand right next to the Prestige Magazine’s (where Twiice had a few of their furniture pieces). This was Township Patterns - their stand was warm and inviting and almost made you year for those cold cosy days - most especially in this insane heat. Based in Kloof Street this company offers previously disadvantaged women opportunities to create their own job and gain skills by hand making from natural fabrics quality bags. It is a truly great social quality that made the stand, stand out - of course, also the absolute visual beauty of the fabrics.The CTICC certainly had many a feet walking through its doors - a great escape from the warmth - and I am feeling more positive about design as slowly we see that this country is indeed evolving into something whereby South African’s should be proud!
Panton Chair Celebrates Its Fiftieth Year
When the first Panton Chair - the first product developed independently by Vitra - finally arrived on the market in 1967, it had an unusually long and difficult development process behind it, a process that was only temporarily completed upon its commercial introduction. Within the next few years the chair underwent several changes in material and manufacturing technology, while also evolving into a symbol of its era and an icon for furniture design.It all begun in the 1960s, when Verner Panton came to Vitra to show Willi and Rolf Fehlbaum a deep-drawn prototype of a chair made out of plastic. They were fascinated by the idea and wanted to pursue serial-production of the chair. It finally reached the manufacturing stage in 1967. The first models were made out of fibreglass-reinforced polyester, followed by a version in rigid polyurethane foam (Baydur) and another in injection moulded Luran S (ASA). It became apparent with time that the latter material was susceptible to fatigue and breakage. For this reason, Vitra suspended production of the chair in the late 1970s.Through the initiative of Verner Panton however, the complex - but reliable - casting method using rigid polyurethane foam was resumed in the 1980s and has been continued to the present day. The version for design connoisseurs is marketed under the name Panton Chair Classic.Yet, in the meantime, so much progress has been made in plastics technology that the Panton Chair can once again be manufactured by injection moulding - now in teh material of polypropylene, which is fully recyclable. The renewed alternative of injection moulding technology makes it possible to also offer the chair in an inexpensive version, thereby making this classic available to a wide public.Even after Panton’s death in 1988, work on the classic continued. With the approval of Marianne Panton, Vitra launched the Panton Junior in 2006, a children’s version of the chair based on the original plans. The Panton Chair has always been a favorite of children. They like its bright colours, the pleasant smoothness of its curves and the fact that they can not only climb on it, but also use it to make great caves and hiding places. Identical to the full sized model with regards to material and shape, the Panton Junior is approximately 25 percent smaller. This makes it a happy place to sit for children in preschool and primary grades.From Vitra Press Info.
2010 - A positive Number!
Happy New Years!Suddenly all I can feel is positive energy with 2010, maybe that comes with having it a positive year in numbers. But, for the most part people I have spoken to have mentioned how they are looking forward to this year, how they can feel that it has big things in store - THIS is their year.2009 is behind us - a testing year for most people and a time that has strengthened us, we have seen the hurdles and realised they are not barriers, but just moments perhaps needed for growth. Whatever ones view is, this is the year we can start anew and fresh and focus on growth in all aspects.With the world cup soon to be, the energy is one that we need to collate and use, let our creative selves work with what this country is being offered - there is so much we can do, we need to show the world what a fantastically amazing country this is - in aesthetics, in climate, in the people, the culture, the diversity, the food - we need to welcome.Yes, I too feel the positive energy from 2010 - this is going to be a good year!
A Year that has created ….
The curtain for 2009 is about to draw to a close and what a year 2009 has been! I think there is no business or industry that can say with truth that they have not felt the effects of that dastardly of words… recession! The big R!I do choose however to look at the positive aspects of recession; the fact that we think in inventive ways as money is not always the answer. Partnerships are made, adn the mind becomes creative - I have ironically found that it has been a year of grown where people actually appreciate their positions and work harder and they discover how much working hard can actually be enjoyed.I believe that things are picking up, at Twiice we have so many fascinating projects in the pipeline; both corporate and domestic. Buildings are being built, people are buying houses, and life goes on. The thing we need to do is all believe in it only getting better - and it is and if 2009 has been a tester of a year I feel that 2010 will be a year of rewards.
Sustain-Able!
Sustainable design, eco friendly design, “green” designs are words all too prevalent - as they should be. Design has acquired a conscience and no longer are designers perceived as diva “hippy” creative types, for now they are doing their all to change the planet, to better it, to enhance its lifetime and for that matter ours! Perhaps the word hippy has a rather misconceiving connotation to it - when one thinks hippy they think of anti-establishment types. For example look at the definition of hippy and it is a person especially of the late 1960’s who rejected established institutions and values and sought spontaneity, direct personal relations expressing love, and expanded consciousness, often expressed externally in the wearing of casual clothing and of beads, headbands, used garments etc. Personally I am a bit bemused that a dictionary can be so banal in its meaning, surely it’s an antiquated idea; that was a period that has now flowed over to a very incorrect or vacuous meaning - and can the external of clothes really do enough to describe the internal?Do you love the earth, do you care what happens to matter around you, do you accept that you are not the ultimate being - ask these simple questions, ask if you do care about releasing toxins, of waste - and if you answer yes, it simple - you too are a hippy, in the now sense, in the sense of conscience.so we come to the original topic of sustainable design, are we all doing our bit, are we all watching the carbon footprint in our products we manufacture, purchase and sell. It is not necessarily all about recycling (not to say do not recycle) but it is also about buying a product that you will want to keep - forever, that does not need to be recycled. It is about using clever materials, about following nature and understanding nature and from there design based and following the most beautiful and most complex but yet simple design of all… the natural world!
South Africa - A Creative Map!
Perhaps it is the taunt the summer is coming albeit with rainy days - but it is there, you can feel it - summer! And so with summer on its way, I am feeling rather happy and content and feel that South Africa is moving and making its way on the map for all things creative. The world is taking note - and it is about time too!In film, the reviews for District 9 are incredible, and although the producer is Lord of the Rings master Peter Jackson the movie is otherwise 100% South African and has received huge acclaim. In fashion, following the Cape Town fashion week held a few weeks ago, it seems we have finally moved away from the safari look - at last - and are embracing the diversity of this country and that South Africa has no one defined look that we need to enforce - finally we are seeing design of mindsIn industrial design, simply seeing what second year students from CPUT came up with for our Twiice International lighting competition was enlightening - excuse the pun - and made me immensely proud. The winning light was Lurky Larry, designed by David Steele and Larry seemed at such ease in our Twiice showroom, fitting in and not looking at all out of place amidst products designed by Philippe Starck, the Bourollecs or Patricia Urquiola.And so, design and creativity in South Africa is moulding itself into original thinkers, we are moving away from what we feel we must do; and people are designing what they want to design - design is also becoming a very ethical point of view, in copying and sustainability as well as biomimicry, and we are developing and shaping up into a country that should be proud and shine its creative light!