Business News
The California Senate banned the sale of upholstered furniture and mattresses containing fiberglass and other flame-retardant chemicals earlier this month. Designers today Reports. The bill will now head to the state House, and if it passes there, it will go into effect statewide on January 1, 2027. Although historically used to meet fire resistance standards, fiberglass may produce negative health effects, as short-term exposure has been shown to It causes lung inflammation and bronchiolitis, long-term exposure associated with lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. The use of the substance in foam mattresses has already been banned in the state, while most furniture manufacturers have begun phasing it out over the past two decades.
After Mitchell Gould + Bob Williams’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing blamed its abrupt closure on PNC Bank, the bank filed its own rebuttal. In court documents, PNC objected to MG+BW’s first-day requests — post-petition financing requests that would allow customers to collect finished products they’ve already paid for, along with paying claims to critical vendors and certain taxes and utilities. “PNC strongly opposes the narrative in the Day 1 announcement that seeks to blame PNC for management’s incompetence in managing its business,” the filing said. “At a minimum, because the Debtors are not currently employed and there is no need to request Day One relief, PNC should be given more time to review and comment on the relief requested by the Debtors on Day One.” PNC has indicated that it plans to address these allegations later in the proceedings.
Last week, Amazon announced an expansion of its logistics network, which will allow sellers to move their products from Amazon warehouses to other sales channels — including unaffiliated stores and warehouses — rather than directly to consumers through the site. TechCrunch Reports. The new software, called Supply Chain by Amazon, will allow the platform to oversee end-to-end logistics for sellers, first picking up their inventory directly from their factory and then managing the supply chain all the way through to delivery. The initiative is currently undergoing a beta testing program with a select group of vendors, with plans to debut it to all users later this year.
U.S. office vacancy rates have reached record levels this year, currently standing at about 15 percent — though a closer look reveals commonalities among vacant buildings, most of which are aging. In the last episode of Lead the next luck Gensler CEO Diane Hoskins and her co-CEO, Andy Cohen, explain that companies returning to offices after the pandemic are increasingly choosing to move into buildings built after 2015, which often have better-quality space and amenities — making Work facilitates the transition back to the office for employees. They describe this movement as a “flight to quality,” with buildings in the post-2015 category seeing vacancy rates in the single digits.
Soft Surroundings — a St. Louis-based company that specializes primarily in women’s apparel and accessories, but also in home goods — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Home textiles today Reports. According to its filing, the company obtained $18 million in debtor-in-possession financing from restructuring firm Gordon Brothers to finance its transition. Going forward, Soft Surroundings has agreed to sell its assets to retailer Coldwater Creek (a subsidiary of Hong Kong sourcing company Newtimes Group), which will continue to operate the brands’ e-commerce and DTC catalog business.
Syria acquired Salt Lake City-based furniture company RST Brands, Designers today Reports. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal marks Surya’s second acquisition in the past six months as it looks to expand its diverse range of carpets, textiles and outdoor furniture, following the company’s purchase of Global Views earlier this year.
Launches and collaborations
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has teamed up with Samsung to bring its collection of stunning artwork into the homes of owners of the electronics company’s Frame TVs. Through the online Samsung Art Store, Frame owners can now choose from 38 pieces sourced from The Met’s collections — such as the American Pavilion, Asian Art, Egyptian Art, European Paintings and Islamic Art — with works including Edgar Degas’s “Rehearsal Art.” Ballet on Stage, Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh, and Still Life with Apples and a Bowl of Spring Flowers by Paul Cézanne.
Custom piece by artist Brianna Lance in collaboration between Ill and The Tappan CollectiveCourtesy of Tappan Collection
Cosmetics brand Ilia has teamed up with art e-commerce platform Tappan Collective to commission three custom artworks inspired by the brand’s Eye Stylus Shadow Stick. Artists Brianna Lance, Satsuki Shibuya and Jamie Milner have each produced a unique piece to be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Heart of Los Angeles Visual Arts Program.
The Bruno Effect — an online marketplace that connects interior designers and collectors with contemporary and vintage furniture and collectibles — announced that it has changed its name to Effetto. Effetto, an Italian term meaning “influence,” represents an evolution of the brand’s original name and is designed to “evoke the power of network influence between relationships in the world of design,” according to a press release.
In partnership with Afterpay, Ikea has introduced its first-ever buy now, pay later programme. The new service – applicable to orders between $40 to $500 – will allow customers to purchase in four interest-free payments over a six-week period.
Exhibitions
The Kips Bay Decorator Show House has announced the annual list of designers and architects selected to reimagine this year’s Dallas edition. Among the 22 design professionals participating in the showroom this year are Darren Henault, Sarah Hillery, Jason Jones, Rivers Spencer, and more, whose works will make their public debut for two weeks starting on November 3. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, Dwell with Dignity and Crystal Ball Charities.
Suggestions for reading
to CurbMia Mercado asks the question on everyone’s mind: Is Buckle’s long reign finally over? Although it first gained popularity in the 1940s after architect Eero Saarinen used it to upholster the famous Womb Chair, the second coming of Buckle arrived shortly after Gwyneth Paltrow partnered with CB2 in 2018 to launch an ivory swivel chair covered in the cozy material. , resulting in the production of an ivory swivel chair covered with a comfortable material. The covered pieces were quickly re-adopted by retailers such as Walmart, Wayfair, Target and even grocery chain Aldi. Five years later, Buckle is now dominating listings on resale sites like Kaiyo, Craigslist, and AptDeco, and is beginning to attract the wrath of designers for its overuse.
Hospitality brands like the Four Seasons, Aman, and Ritz-Carlton may have paved the way for luxury brands in the residential market, but they certainly haven’t cornered it — with automakers and fashion houses chasing them, judging by the recent debut of Porsche Design Tower and Armani Residences Casa, and Bentley’s prospective residences along the Miami coast. As written by Debra Kamin New York timesthe luxury branded condominium market is expected to grow 12 percent annually between now and 2026 — and as a result, you’ll likely see more residences bearing the brands of purveyors of everything from luxury cars to high-end fashion.
Cue the applause
The International Furniture and Design Association announced the winners of two of its most important awards given annually. This year’s winner of the 2023 International Honorary Recognition Award is Elaine Gefen, a home furnishings broadcast journalist and co-founder of production studio Gefen Productions based in High Point, North Carolina, while the 2023 Trailblazer Award goes to Patti Carpenter, a boutique business professional and Director of Carpenter + Company/Trendscope. Both winners will be honored at the organization’s annual Diamond Awards Gala in Boston on September 29.
Home page image: The Met partners with Samsung to bring masterpieces from the museum’s collection to Frame | TV owners Courtesy of Samsung