+ Follow

Cut from the same cloth: Sam Reich, managing director of Tibor

Sam Reich, the grandson of the late Hungarian-born designer Tibor Reich, is embarking on a mission to revive his grandfather's celebrated designer textile brand, Tibor Reich. Tibor Reich revolutionized post-war British interiors with his vibrant and textured textiles, which adorned prestigious locations ranging from Clarence House to the cabins of luxury ocean liners and even the upholstery for Concorde. The original mill near Stratford-upon-Avon closed in 1976, and the brand lay dormant for decades after Tibor's death. However, in late 2017, Sam Reich decided to relaunch the brand, driven by a desire to preserve his grandfather's legacy and reintroduce his unique designs to contemporary interiors. Reich, who previously founded a successful music streaming business at age 13, dedicated a year to meticulously studying his grandfather's extensive archive, which comprises 30,000 designs and numerous historical documents. He also enlisted the expertise of his great-uncle, interior designer David Bentheim, who had worked with Tibor in the 1960s, to guide the relaunch and ensure the designs resonate with modern interior designers. The relaunch began with a curated selection of 10 designs in five colorways. The manufacturing process for these fabrics is described as complex and meticulous, starting with the sourcing of specific wools, followed by yarn spinning, dyeing, twisting, weaving, and finishing. This hands-on approach to production, differentiating it from common practices of buying stock yarn, is crucial to achieving the distinctive textures and originality of Tibor's fabrics. Tibor Reich's inspiration for color often stemmed from Hungarian peasant outfits, reflecting his family's background in textile manufacturing in Budapest. After studying textiles in Vienna and then at Leeds University, he established his mill in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1946. Initially designing fabrics for leading couturiers like Norman Hartnell, he pivoted to interiors due to a significant tax loophole on couture fabrics. This shift allowed him to introduce a fashion-forward approach to furnishings, an ethos the revived brand continues to champion. The brand reached its peak during the Festival of Britain in 1951, where Tibor unveiled his deeply textured fabrics in daring colors like kingfisher blue, sunshine yellow, and Siamese pink, a stark contrast to the post-war drabness. He ingeniously blended yarns to create rich textures and designed fabrics for the Royal Shakespeare Company, naming them after Shakespearean characters. His work quickly gained traction with major furniture manufacturers such as Ercol and G Plan. Furthermore, Tibor's textiles found their way into luxury ocean liners, including Cunard's _TSS Olympia_ and the _Queen Mary_, with notable designs like 'Zebra' and 'Shaftsbury' adorning their interiors. Sam Reich is committed to building upon this legacy. The new Tibor brand is actively engaged in bespoke projects, creating custom deep-textured weaves for superyachts with exclusive modernist interior designers in Paris. The comprehensive archive allows for extensive bespoke work, which currently accounts for half of the brand's orders. Upcoming commissions include fabrics for the Soho House in Shepherd’s Bush. While some classic designs, such as Royal Boucle and Princess (created for Princess Elizabeth), are being reproduced exactly, others are adapted for contemporary tastes. The brand is also developing outdoor fabrics from popular Tibor designs. With new representation in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, Sam Reich aims to re-establish Tibor's unique designs globally, leveraging his business acumen and his grandfather's iconic heritage to ensure these beautiful textiles once again grace the world's most sophisticated ships and homes. #TextileDesign #LuxuryInteriors #YachtDesign #FabricRevival #BritishDesign #PostWarDesign #InteriorDesignHistory #SamReich #TiborReich #TextileDesign #LuxuryInteriors #YachtDesign #FabricRevival #BritishDesign #PostWarDesign #InteriorDesignHistory #SamReich #TiborReich

95 months ago

Read Full Article

No comments yet

Q&A: Unison's Founders on Marimekko, Design, and the Future of Fabric

Chicago Magazine

David Heiman | Sales Director | Agora

Fibre2Fashion

This article features an interview with Alicia Rosauer and Robert Segal, the founders of Unison, a Chicago-based design and home-furnishings shop. Both founders have a deep connection to Marimekko, the legendary Finnish design firm. Alicia's interest in Marimekko began in her childhood when her parents purchased Marimekko bedding for her and her sister's room. Robert, whose parents founded Crate and Barrel, was exposed to Marimekko from birth, as his parents were early importers of the fabric, and his grandmother would convert Marimekko fabric by the yard into ready-made items like throw pillows and pot holders. The interview delves into their early experiences with Marimekko and their careers at the company. Robert worked as a junior designer, creating prints for apparel, then bag designs, men's shirts, and eventually fabric for the interior department. Alicia initially focused on photo, marketing, and styling, assisting with photoshoots. Over their five years at Marimekko, they collaborated on several projects, including patterns for women's apparel and interior fabrics. They highlight the significant impact Marimekko's design philosophy had on them, particularly its embrace of large-scale, non-repeatable patterns and its meticulous attention to color. Marimekko's extensive color library, with thousands of formulas and high-quality dyes, allowed for precise color reproduction, a critical aspect of their design. After their time at Marimekko, Alicia and Robert founded Unison, driven by their own clear product ideas that didn't align with Marimekko's direction or their junior status at the time. They explain how Unison balances well-known, familiar patterns like stripes and buffalo checks with more organic, all-over designs, often juxtaposing them to create a harmonious look. They emphasize the importance of usability in their designs, noting that not every product needs to be an art piece. The interview also touches on the practical limitations of running a smaller company, such as not owning their factories, which affects the number of colors they can use in patterns due to minimum yardage requirements. The conversation also explores their sourcing strategies, including attending trade shows, monitoring design blogs, and increasingly, being approached by designers. They value patience in their seasonal cycles, understanding that opportunities can resurface. A key aspect of Unison's initial strategy was a commitment to "made in America" production, influenced by companies like American Apparel. This allowed for lower minimum order requirements and better quality control compared to international manufacturing options. The founders discuss the evolution of manufacturing, noting that while much of Marimekko's printing and fabric production remains in Finland, some ready-made goods are produced in other countries to manage costs. Looking ahead, they foresee a significant expansion in digital printing, which aligns with the demand for personalized and on-demand products, especially with the rise of platforms like Etsy. They reflect on a past family discussion where the idea that people no longer cared about fabric was prevalent, contrasting it with the current trend of individuals and smaller producers creating and selling fabric by the yard through digital printing. This shift represents a significant return of interest in fabric as a raw material for creative endeavors. #UnisonHome #Marimekko #FabricDesign #HomeFurnishings #DesignPhilosophy #TextileIndustry #DigitalPrinting #MadeInAmerica #InteriorDesign #Entrepreneurship

Agora, a prominent name in high-end fabrics for decoration and upholstery, distinguishes itself through its unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, primarily by exclusively using 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic (SDA) fibers. This dedication ensures superior durability, color retention, and resistance to harsh outdoor conditions, setting Agora apart from competitors who blend with inferior fibers like polyester, PVC, or olefin. The company's journey began with its parent company, Tuvatextil, established in 1997, which introduced the Acrisol brand of 100 percent acrylic upholstery in 1998. A significant turning point occurred in 2011 with the acquisition by the Sauleda Group, leading to the creation of the Agora brand, focusing on high-end fabric production. Further solidifying its capabilities, Agora achieved vertical integration in 2020 by acquiring a finishing plant. The brand's global presence expanded with a showroom in Jakarta in 2023 and the establishment of a warehouse and sales offices in the US in 2024, cementing its leadership in the fabric industry. The benefits of using 100 percent SDA fibers are manifold, rooted in decades of proven textile science. These fibers are recognized for exceptional color-fastness, durability, cleanability, and softness. As a synthetic fiber, SDA resists decomposition and is fully saturated with color, effectively minimizing UV degradation and maintaining resistance to mold, mildew, and strength over time. This intrinsic durability and consistent color ensure long-lasting, high-performance fabrics suitable for diverse and demanding environments. Agora ensures the durability and resistance of its fabrics through complete control over the production process, from fiber selection to finishing. This meticulous approach guarantees that each fabric adheres to the highest standards. The brand further reinforces its commitment to durability with a non-prorated 5-year warranty, reflecting confidence in its products' resilience and quality. Fabrics are also enhanced with specific treatments, notably the proprietary Eco-Shield finish, which provides anti-stain and water-repellent properties, increasing resilience and longevity. This exclusive formula is a key differentiator, ensuring consistent performance in various demanding settings. Popular collections like Liso and Panama are celebrated for their extensive color ranges and subtle depth, while Twitell offers double-face versatility. Armonias stands out with trendy colors and soft textures, and the Gaiá collection is recognized for its unique design and consistency. Agora's five professional designers continuously research industry trends and collaborate closely with production engineers and supply chain specialists to balance aesthetic appeal with functionality and durability. Key considerations for both outdoor and indoor fabrics include aesthetics, durability, and ease of care. The brand addresses environmental concerns by using sustainable power sources, such as a hydro-electric plant, and has developed Agora Life, a recycled brand that reprocesses post-production waste into reusable fibers. Currently, Agora is exploring innovations to improve the performance of its non-PFAS finish, investigating new technologies that offer enhanced performance without harsh chemicals. The company emphasizes that durability is synonymous with sustainability, focusing on creating strong, long-lasting fabrics to reduce consumption and benefit the environment. Consumer preferences significantly influence product development, with a recent demand for fabrics with greater depth and texture leading to the creation of boucle and channel yarns in collections like Armonias. Ultimately, Agora prioritizes functional performance, ensuring products meet market demands before developing more intricate designs, thus offering a wide array of patterns and textures that balance aesthetic appeal with robust performance. #AgoraFabrics #SolutionDyedAcrylic #HighEndTextiles #FabricInnovation #SustainableTextiles #OutdoorFabrics #InteriorDesign #TextileManufacturing #EcoShield

Ideal House APP

Cut from the same cloth: Sam Reich, managing director of Tibor