Kartell TOKYO, the flagship store of Italian interior brand Kartell, opened on October 22nd at 5-5-4 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Toyo Kitchen Style has been the exclusive distributor of the brand in Japan since January 2017, and prior to Tokyo, the store opened a flagship store in Nagoya (2-21 Issha, Meito-ku, Nagoya) on October 15th. The Minami-Aoyama store, which spans three floors (one basement and two above ground), was designed by Ferruccio Laviani, the designer behind official Kartell stores around the world and the brand's products, and features over 400 different items, including sofas, lighting, and fragrances, which are being offered in Japan for the first time. The exhibition features a variety of notable and iconic pieces, including the "Planet" lighting fixture designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, which garnered attention at this year's Milan Salone; the "Madame World of Emilio Pucci," a collaboration between the Philippe Stark-designed "Madame" upholstered armchair and Emilio Pucci's "Cities of the World" scarf collection, which debuted at the same exhibition last April; and the "Precious Collection," released in 2014. Also on display are chairs and sofas from Ettore Sottsass's "Kartell goes SOTTSASS A TRIBUTE TO MEMPHIS" line. "Until now, Kartell has often been introduced in Japan as a single plastic item, which has created a gap between its recognition as a comprehensive interior brand in Italy and the market. We plan to open similar shops nationwide that offer a comprehensive lineup," says Takao Watanabe, president of Toyo Kitchen Style.

Text: Tatsuya Noda