above> misc. storage | finell
above>below What was not so noticeble at Ambiente 14 seemed everywhere at Home&Housewares 14: silicone. Washable/dishwasher safe, flexible, can be non-stick and easily takes colors, silicone has been around and first widely used for protection from heat and ironically, never has seemed to be taken seriously. In 2012 a new ingredient was added to silicone’s many assets and that was design. In 2013-14 silicone presents itself as ‘high-end’ through a new Austin, Texas, [ Finell ] founded by designer Rebecca Finell. The company designs, produces and distributes it’s own products and not exclusively silicone.
facets | finell
siliase | monbento
above>below [ Monbento ] is a three-year-old French company founded by designer and CEO Emilie Fabien. It’s new ‘silicase’ collection for oven baked items is really beautiful, with a high-gloss inside and high matte outside and both Monbento and Finell offers a refined color palette which dramatically separates them from the pack.
chopula | dreamfarm
above>below [ Dreamfarm ] creates a myriad of silicone solutions. Here’s Chopula (2012). The Australian company created in 2009 by Alex and Cate Gransbury also has a a USA base in San Francisco. The refined function of each product is not hidden by the playfulness of form.
chopula | dreamfarm
o bag | lexon
above>below Though technically not silicone the O bag feels like it but is a great deal less dense, less heavy, and may inspire designers to experiment with less heavy silicone solutions. The bags all come with removable mix-n-match handles as well as a zipper foam-like insert if you wish a little more security and are waterproof. O bag is designed by Italian designer Emanuele Magenta and made by Fullspot. O bag was seen in the [ Lexon ] booth, a French company conceived in 1991 by designer and president, René Adda.
o bag | lexon
All of these companies were found in [ Discover Design ] a design-centric area at #IHHS14 @HousewaresShow