Interviews
Fleurville's Steve Granville discusses the Calla Chair
On the eve of the launch of Fleurville’s Calla high chair, designed by Yves Behar, we had a few moments to chat with founder Steve Granville about the next big step for his company.
coochicoos: Introducing Calla, a high chair, is a lot different from making diaper bags. Tell us how this fits into the evolution of Fleurville.
Steve: When we started Fleurville four years ago, we set out to build a brand that would become important in the parenting space. Soft goods was just a starting point for us. After all, our slogan “essential designs for modern parenting” represents the company we are building, and we see plenty of opportunity for us in the future.
coochicoos: How did you decide on designing a high chair?
Steve: After researching what was on the market, it struck us how many other baby companies approached their product design with safety being the primary driver in determining the look of their products. I think that’s why you see so much stagnant design in the marketplace. Of course, safety is inherent in Calla, but first we wanted to make a visually strong looking product, and it makes a big difference in the end result.
May 20, 2006 in Baby Gear, Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: calla, fleurville, high chairs, ICFF, yves behar
Interview with Zutano's Michael & Uli Belenky
Zutano is an internationally distributed children’s clothing, accessories, and plush toy company based in the green hills of Cabot, Vermont. Started in 1989, we recently we sat down with husband and wife founders Uli and Michael Belenky.
How do you start work for the next season’s collection? What does your creative process look like?
Uli: We start with the colors. We review our current assorted color palette, and see what new colors we will add for the next season. That’s what Zutano is all about – the mixing and matching of color. Next, I source an assortment of textiles and yarns that will work with my new collection concepts. Silhouettes and textural elements go hand in hand, following the season’s new theme or mood we picked.
What makes Zutano stand out from other clothing designers and manufacturers?
Michael: Zutano is a design company foremost. We’re proud of our high print quality and superior 100% cotton interlock fabric, and we carefully select our graphics, colors, stripes and geometrics. But most of all, we strive to express a child’s individuality through fashion, using clothing as an expression and canvas.
May 10, 2006 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: zutano
