designwire daily | ICFF 2011: Espacio Sami Hayek

ICFF 2011: Espacio Sami Hayek

by Annie Block | Friday, May 13, 2011

Damas

The name Sami Hayek may sound familiar. For one, he’s the younger brother of actress Salma. But you may also recognize the moniker from his Back to College 2008 Target line, a streamlined office collection that used minimal packaging and recyclable or reusable content.

Barro Negro; Brass Stool

That same eye on the environment informs his latest endeavor: Espacio Sami Hayek, which debuts at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), May 14-17. Teaming up with Springs Global, which recently launched Diane von Furstenberg’s DVF Home line, the collection merges rich colors and textures with contemporary lines for an aesthetic that’s unique, warm, and livable. “The pieces are inspired by the craftsmanship of local traditions in global cultures,” says Hayek, who has also designed furniture for Poltrona Frau. For example, Hayek, who was born in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, mines his roots for the tables and serving pieces made from Barro Negro, a rich Oaxacan clay, while his area rugs are woven from palm leaves also indigenous to that region; both were created through a collaboration with a Mexican artisan collective, in an effort to generate living-wage jobs and sustainable economic development there.

Mestizo

Natural materials, such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, and reclaimed wood, compose seating, credenza, and tables. Lighting, tabletop items, and bedding round out the collection, which will be available this fall at espaciosamihayek.com and high-end retailers. A rollout of flagship boutiques in New York, L.A., and Miami is planned for early 2012 as are turnkey interior-design and architecture services.

Visit Espacio Sami Hayek at booth #1318 during ICFF.