Fair Trade
Highlights from Frankfurt’s mammoth consumer goods show Ambiente.
Nakta Designs empowers talented women in remote areas of Central Asia to revive an ancient technique of felted rug making. Wholly modern, freeform patterns are accented with golden threadwork. Expect two to three months lead time. From $2,370; nakta.world
The three new pieces in Dutch designer Marcel Wanders’ Blue Ming porcelain and crystal collection for Vista Alegre employ crystal cutting techniques to the bisque porcelain shapes. Glass leaf lid handles tie them back to the China pattern. $995–$1,295; vistaalegre.com
Berlin’s Fundamental introduced new PUSH bowl sizes, marrying geometry and craftsmanship in variously sized metal discs that become bowls with minimal application of pressure. Available in brass, copper, stainless steel, and blue titanium. $28–$163; fundamental.berlin
New company Klatt Objects debuted a dizzying array of accessories designed by German Detlef Klatt and produced by far-flung international artisans using various woods, marbles, woven fibers, porcelain, and other materials. From $6 (wooden spoons); klatt-objects.com
British designer Nigel Mac-Fall’s 32 Limited Platinum Edition chess sets for Robbe & Berking house pure gold and platinum pieces and a wenge-maple board in bookbinder August Sandgren’s leather box. From $267,000 (depending on the market price of metals); robbeberking.com
Finnish designer Satu Somero of Pisa Design uses spool upon spool of old VHS tape, mixing it with handwoven flax canvas to create handbags, phone cases, placemats, and cosmetic bags that are stylish and have a hint of shimmer in a range of sizes and styles. $30–$305; pisadesign.fi
Javier Gómez created the Marble Tower table for Portuguese firm Essenzia to evoke skyscrapers of Manhattan (his home base) with an eclectic style, using India White and Nero Marquina marbles. A pink and black option with Rosa Portugal and Nero Marquina marbles is also available. From $3,000; essenzia.pt
