Some are classic, others revisit traditions that are on the verge of disappearing, others are inspired by surrealism or adopt minimalism as the norm, but what all these brands have in common is a firm commitment to the table as the center of meetings and celebrations.
Gohar World: “We work with family workshops. “We are sisters and enjoy working with these companies.”
Two of the objects created by Gohar World. Courtesy of the signatures
Sisters Nadia and Laila Gohar founded Gohar World in 2020. Three years later, their brand, which began with online sales, did not stop growing and reached the physical world: in October of this year they opened their first store in Soho New York – designed by Rafael Prieto from the creative studio Savvy – opened in November in the Gangnam district of Seoul. They have become a benchmark for sophistication at the table: in 2022 they launched a capsule collection of tableware for Gucci and Laila designed pieces (glasses, plates, napkins) for the Danish design firm Hay.
Above these lines the sisters Nadia (left) and Laila Gohar with the kind permission of the signatures
“Gohar World was created during the lockdown as a dream of what we would like to share when we could be together again,” says Laila. “After surviving the pandemic, we want to socialize more and the tables we prepare should be beautiful and personal.” The sisters were born in Egypt and have dedicated themselves to the world of art, which they also extend to theirs table objects, with surrealism being a reference and their roots being very present. “Our textiles are made in Egypt, many come from my grandmother's sister's workshop, who makes school uniforms. “My grandmother was a fashion designer, without her we couldn’t have created the brand,” emphasizes Laila. Craftsmen of different generations from different parts of the world are their suppliers: “We work with family workshops. We are sisters and enjoy working with these companies. The Laboratorio Paravicini in Milan produces the ceramics and the glassware is made by Lobmeyr in Austria.”
The interior of Gohar World's first physical store in New York. Courtesy of the brands
Laetitia Rouget: “Ceramics have a therapeutic aspect that I enjoy, namely working with your hands and being in contact with the medium you are using.”
The designer portrays her kitchen and one of her table suggestions. Courtesy of the brands
Laetitia Rouget began immersing herself in the world of ceramics six years ago, when she turned 29. “I wanted to learn about a new medium as a hobby, but after a few months I decided to quit my job and take some time to figure out what it was. “I wanted to do it.” I wanted to fully immerse myself and and that’s when I decided to dedicate myself entirely to ceramics,” he explains from Lisbon, where he settled two years ago. Although French, Rouget studied art and illustration at the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London and worked in fashion before quitting entirely to focus on ceramics. “There's a therapeutic aspect to it that I enjoy, which is working with your hands and being in contact with the medium you're using,” he says. Born from a hobby, this brand is now sold in department stores such as Harrods and also on multi-brand online sales platforms such as Anthropologie or Farfetch, demonstrating the popularity and versatility of the table objects it designs. in which it prevails. Color and manual post-processing.
The Tulip candlestick and saucer from the Forever collection by Laetitia Rouget. Courtesy of the brands
“I think that tableware has always been an item of general interest across different generations, but now it is also fashionable, it is a thriving business. Since Corona, many big brands have been developing their own categories of household items, and that is making them more and more present,” he remembers. He believes that the demand also outlines a new way of consumption: “People are now looking for pieces that will last a lifetime, they want to support young artists and designers, they are looking for unique products that are well made, respectful of others the.” environment and which have a story behind them. His plates, for example, contain messages from pop culture (one of them reads in handwriting: “Oops, I did it again,” a tribute to Britney Spears), but they also show the influence of Henri Matisse's ceramic shapes and colors . “My inspiration comes from different aspects of my life, from my personal journey. I guess it’s a mix of English eccentricity and the warm colors of Portugal, peppered with a French touch.”
Iloema: “We create meetings between artists and craftsmen who exchange knowledge and expertise”
On the left, artisan Alberto Simón embroiders one of Iloema's tablecloths. On the side tablecloth with Lagartera shields from the company. Courtesy of the companies
The name Iloema comes from the combination of thread and poem. Silvia Delgado de Torres and Teresa Muñoz-Rojas founded their brand in 2019 using textiles as their medium. Their tablecloths incorporate traditional embroidery techniques that they discovered on a trip through Spain. “The world of table art has been important in other countries for some time and now it is becoming more common here too; “Nowadays, with social networks like Instagram and Pinterest, it’s easier to find out what’s being done and how,” they say.
Silvia Delgado de Torres (standing) and Teresa Muñoz-Rojas with the Pléyade screen, with a drawing by the sculptor Blanca Muñoz from the workshop of JM Martínez Hurtado. Courtesy of the signatures
They define themselves as “editors and curators of textile art” and, thanks to their curiosity and research, have claimed the embroidery of Lagartera or Herreruela as their own. They have also done artist editions with sculptor Blanca Muñoz, and their next collaboration will once again unite artist Antonio Ballester Moreno and the Royal Tapestry Factory. “We create meetings between artists and craftsmen who exchange knowledge and expertise,” they emphasize. To appreciate craftsmanship, they argue, “training is very important, that is the big issue at hand.” Your effort? That reference schools are created to save these jobs.
Sophia and Louise Roe: “People are tired of quick interior design. “We are looking for something that lasts”
One of the Roe table suggestions. Courtesy of the signatures
Danish Sophia Roe (co-founder of fashion brand The Garment) is a benchmark for Nordic cool. This is because of her background: her mother, the interior designer Louise Roe Andersen, has been producing and selling objects in her gallery in Copenhagen since 2018. Now they've teamed up as prescribers to create SR, a collection of pieces where minimalism reigns “from a Scandinavian perspective.”
Louise (left) and Sophia Roe have worked together on a range of home pieces, such as this hand-blown glass mug, glasses and pitcher from the Bubble Glass range. Courtesy of the companies
Louise says: “She draws inspiration from the numerous dinners that Sophia hosted around the world on her trips to Paris.” For her part, she contributed sober forms borrowed from the Bauhaus. “People are tired of fast-paced interior design and trends that are constantly changing,” they explain, “they are looking for something that will last, not just to resist buying and throwing away, but because we want homes to be ours Reflect personality.” In this collaboration, everything stays at home, be it plates, bowls, glasses, tablecloths or vases: the objects are made in family craft businesses in Portugal.
La Veste: “People with a passion for fashion are increasingly interested in decoration”
Courtesy of the signatures
“Preparing a table is a very personal act that reflects the personality of the host, who wants to offer and share the best of himself with his guests,” say designer María de la Orden and stylist Blanca Miró, who created their brand in 2018, La Veste. Fashion came first and immediately her universe extended to the table, always linked to textiles: tablecloths, napkins, bread bags, lined picnic baskets, aprons and coasters “with a naive touch” and bright colors make up the catalog. “People with a passion for fashion are becoming increasingly interested in decoration,” they say, “these are two worlds that are increasingly merging.”
Courtesy of the signatures
They enjoy acting as hostesses for meals, snacks, and dinners at home; His home line is also a way to look back on his childhood and evoke family bonds. “Everything comes from our mothers, who are our inspiration: Cristina and Rosarietta love household items and the four of us love traveling together and finding unique pieces.” The products they make are characterized by Made in Spain and craftsmanship : “They are two inalienable characteristics of the brand, an added value.”
Studio Erhart: “Since the curfew, the house has taken on a role that it didn’t always have before”
The pieces by Estudio Erhart in two of his proposals for tables for celebrations. Courtesy of the companies
Sisters Mercedes Salazar-Simpson Erhart del Campo and Federica Palacios Erhart del Campo grew up surrounded by design, their mother was a gallery owner and interior designer and their father was an ambassador, which led to them living in different countries. With Camila, Mercedes' daughter, they founded the company Studio Erhart in 2020, which bears their shared surname. “We believe that since imprisonment the house has taken on a role that it did not always have before.” In addition, craft work is increasingly valued in order to preserve cultural traditions and support small producers,” explains Camila.
From left to right: Federica Palacios Erhart del Campo, Camila and Mercedes Salazar-Simpson Erhart del Campo. Courtesy of the signatures
They look for these creators all over the world. “Finding them is not easy, but fortunately there are associations that give these artisans a voice,” he adds. The world of the table occupies a special place in his proposal: “By taking the trouble to decorate the table, you show your guests how much you value them.” It is a way to convey affection and an unforgettable experience around food and creating companionship.”