Maharam and Paul Smith – something to celebrate. What could be better than to raise a glass and toast the relationship between a legendary textile company and a fashion icon that has endured for two decades?

A milestone event was held at the Anibou showroom in Melbourne – a celebration of the 20-year collaboration of Maharam and Paul Smith. What could be better than to raise a glass and toast the relationship between a legendary textile company and a fashion icon that has endured for two decades? It’s long-term in anyone’s book.

Ensuring the occasion was indeed a special one, Maharam President, Tony Manzani, Maharam VP Sales, Brendan Clarke and Maharam brand ambassador, Nicole Manzari, travelled from New York to attend the evening and welcome Melbourne’s leading practitioners from the architecture and design community to the event.

To mark the occasion there was an exhibition of Alvar Aalto’s Artek Stool 60 upholstered in a selection of Maharam textiles designed by Smith. With a cornucopia of colour, stripes and patterns, the stools were grouped around the showroom floor and delighted guests, as well as providing places to sit and choose a favourite design.

In a world where people and companies come and go, it is heartening to see that great design is always in fashion and stands the test of time. The relationship between Paul Smith and Maharam began in 1999 when Smith attended an exhibition of Gio Ponti’s work at the London Design Museum.

One textile, a silk produced as part of the Maharam’s Designs of the 20^th century, caught his eye and subsequently became the lining for jackets the following season. From this auspicious beginning a dialogue was born and since then there have been more than 40 designs from Smith for Maharam across fabrics and wallcoverings. The latest ranges are Metered Stripe, Concord Stripe and Ribbed Weave and these woven upholsteries, suitable for both the indoors and outdoors, bring more of Smith’s trademark colour and pattern.

While the stools were much coveted on the evening, the one aspect that caught the imagination of the gathering was the very special relationship that Maharam and Smith enjoy. A collaboration that just keeps delivering more products that inspire architects and designers and bring pleasure to those who view them.

We look forward to the next party where we can toast 30 years for these two titans of the design industry. It’s in the diary!

Kvadrat Maharam
kvadratmaharam.com

Photography
Event images – courtesy of Max&You
Brand images – Paul Smith, courtesy of Maharam