Their design vocabularies could not have been more different. Yet, their shared love for details, exquisite craftsmanship, sensual forms, history (other civilizations, faraway lands, objects, art), and affinity for haute couture artisanry formed the basis of a new friendship.
When they collaborated on a series of chairs, Pierre Yovanovitch and Christian Louboutin demonstrated that opposites can develop into a harmonious partnership and the most intriguing products. Each constructed their oeuvres from similar foundations and they both love to tell stories through their design; one in shoes of red soles, and the one in furniture and objects of strong French modernist roots. When Yovanovitch initially explore collaboartion and asked Louboutin to create the feet of a new collection of chairs — what a brillian idea — the shoe deisgner rather ‘ased for the entire legs,’ he told me. The forms of the leges were created by Louboutin, and they all feature his iconic, red-soled heels, and the body of the chairs, capture Yovanovitch’s signature. This collection is now shown at Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier New York Gallery in Chelsea, and they are all homage to women of the past and present.
Both are mega influencers who are known for mastering forms, forms, which have been at the core of their oeuvres; colors, too. They stand at the forefront of their professions, and their French identities have played a central role in their careers. All pieces are crafted by best-in-class French artisans, who meticulously craft each piece — woodworkers, upholsterers, embroiderers. Because both are known for producing their work by craftsmen who practice traditional handcraftsmanship.
The first series of limited edition chairs includes pieces inspired by muses of the past—women from mythology and film. Each is represented by a chair which tells her story. Dita von Teese, the model known for taking audiences on fantastical journeys with ornate sets and dazzling haute couture performance costumes, is represented with a chair which captures her burlesque costume with an embroidered and laser engraved upholstery. Queen Nefertari, the wife of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, is represented in a chair of embroidered and laser engraved upholstery seat, capturing her famed headdress. Madame Pompadour is dressed in gilded metal heels that look just like Rococo’s crescent in the same green as her dress in her most iconic portrait by Francois Coucher.
The second series, entitled Simply Nude, is about women of the present, those, like me, who love wearing nude shoes, as it is a nod to Louboutin’s renowned Nudes shoe collections. The shoe designer realized that there are various shades of skin and not one nude fits all. This series of five female-inspired silhouettes offered in a variety of wood colors are meant to reflect feminine strength and unique beauty. These chairs are produced in an open edition.
This collaboration between Christian Louboutin, whose red lacquered sole has become a renowned signature since establishing his brand in 1991, and Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier, which was founced by Yovanovitch in 2021 and grew from his love affair with furniture and his adoration for 20th-century modernism, is fresh and unexpected. It is certainly a new addition to the world of contemporary furniture, capturing some of the fundamental principles of conteomporary design, with strong personal expressions. Merging objects with fashion and with storytelling, in the most sophisticated and interesting way with many layers of narratives, memories, and French allure.
The exhibition is open at Pierre Yovanovitch Mobilier New York, 555 W 25th St 6th floor.
About friendship and what Christian loves about Pierre
