Introducing the Featherston 2016 collection
Last night a who’s who of top Australian design professionals were treated to the first glimpse of the stunning new Featherston 2016 collection that has been revised and relaunched for savvy 21st century collectors and discerning consumers.
Legends of Australian design drawing from art, architecture, fashion, furniture, publishing and retail, were welcomed by Roger Wood, esteemed architect of ACCA.
Grant Featherston’s life and professional partner, Mary Featherston, officially opened the Featherston 2016 collection at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) in Melbourne.
It is the first time that ACCA’s main gallery has been offered for a product launch, a tribute to the significance of Featherston’s rightful place in Australian design history.
Showcased on a spectacular 21 metre chrome yellow, spot-lit catwalk extending the length of ACCA’s Main Gallery, VIP guests previewed seventeen designs that span from 1947 – 1974. Ten of these have been out of production since the 1970’s.
While all the designs are still true to the originals, Featherston 2016 is a collaboration by Gordon Mather, Mary Featherston and Grazia & Co that sees these classics revitalised in contemporary, yet timeless fabrics and colours, ensuring the pieces work in today’s interiors.
Highlights of the designs unveiled included:
- The R160 Contour Chair, probably the most instantly recognisable Featherston piece, took on a new look with timeless black and white woolen houndstooth upholstery. Labour intensive as ever, Mather has taken no short cuts in the chairs construction.
- Just some of the 10 pieces that have been out of production since the 1970s include the B230 Contour Chair (c1953), B210 TV Space Chair (c1953), E254 Elastic Suspension Chair (c1954) and the Obo series. The latter was noted by Mary as being one of her all time favourites.
- Designed in 1947, The Relaxation Web Chair, featuring interwoven webbing, is one of Featherson’s earliest designs and first releases. It has been updated with a range of custom dyed webbing.
Guests were welcomed by Roger Wood, esteemed architect of ACCA. Speaking of Grant Featherston’s legacy, Mr Wood said “It is incredible to see how well designs originally conceived mid-last century, take their place confidently and seamlessly in contemporary settings in 2016, evidencing the longevity and sustainability of classic designs.”
Maintaining Featherston’s vision while making it accessible to a new era of consumer has been the responsibility of Gordon Mather, Australia’s only licensed Feathertson manufacturer since the 1980’s, and Grazia Materia, founder of design house Grazia & Co, who will distribute and sell the collection.
Mary Featherston said she was overwhelmed by the interest and excitement ahead of the collection’s launch, saying “The task of updating Grant’s original furniture whilst maintaining the integrity of his vision has required great sensitivity and style. It has been wonderful to work with Gordon and Grazia who have demonstrated these characteristics in every aspect of this collection”.
To acknowledge their place as some of the most significant works in Australian design history and to protect their originality, Featherston’s designs have been registered with IP Australia, with Mary Featherston’s blessing.
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