NY design week – icff 2012: le mouton noir & co.
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Le Moutin Noir literally translates into The Black Sheep, a name the founders of Le Mouton Noir & Co. explain they chose because, “For many years we have followed the herd like a flock of sheep. Working hard, learning and growing, we have never let go of our dream. The black sheep finally wakes up and steps forward to have some fun.” Fun is the operative word here. The designers they feature promote their goal of introducing “fun, quirky, safe and interesting design products…that bring a smile to your face.”
One product that does just that is the B.B. bank, a piggy bank that sits the pig back on its hind legs and shows off its big Buddha belly, though the idea was actually inspired by the pregnancy of Le Mouton’s founder’s wife. When George Lee saw his wife’s belly grow bigger and bigger it apparently reminded him of how much it would cost to raise a child. According to Lee, “I went on the hunt for a piggy bank to help mark the start of a new life and savings for that future boy or girl. I found a loss in the market for a classic style piggy bank with any sort of design appeal. So I got to work on my own interpretation of this timeless piece adding meaning behind it and an eccentric design twist.”
My favorite product in Le Mouton’s repertoire is the Tie Tea Mug, a classic white mug with two notches cut out near the handle for you to tie the string of your tea bag around so it won’t fall inside. This mug accomplishes what I love best about design – how the slightest alteration can completely change the functionality of an object. See more of Le Mouton’s product line as well as their list of stockists.
