Milla&Milli, a brand known for its production of sculptural and timeless pieces that enhance the expressive qualities of wood, has appointed Alain Gilles as its new Art Director. Gilles is an internationally renowned Belgian designer who has been awarded important prizes such as the Red Dot Best of the Best Award and the Good Design Award, and has already authored the successful Edge collection for the Croatian brand.
'Our choice is based on an elective affinity, which stems from the way Alain has interpreted our aesthetic vision, which is closely linked to the world of art. He was able to dive deeply into our world and showed true passion for all the phases of the process that leads from an idea to a production process that preserves the traits of artisanal care,' as Ksenija and Ivić Pašalić explain.
Husband and wife, partners in the conception and foundation of an industry that retains a dreamlike dimension and is based on sophisticated formal research and on the idea that true luxury lies in living in close contact with nature. 'Milla&Milli is truly unique in the furniture industry, as they start processing wood directly from the trunk of the tree to finally transform the best pieces of wood into solid wood furniture,' as Alain Gilles explains. 'Most design brands buy planks of wood and act as a joinery transforming them internally or completely outsource the production of their wooden pieces to external suppliers.'
On the contrary, the Milla&Milli product is the expression of a short supply chain, in which the furniture is born from the surrounding forests and preserves its essence.
'The company buys the Croatian oak – one of the two best quality oaks in the world, along with the French oak – from the nearby forests and processes it all internally on its premises. The excess wood is then sold to German companies for further processing, while the offcuts and production residues are turned into pellets and packed into bags directly on site. The brand has even created its own brand of high-quality pellets, which is sold mainly in Italy.' As art director, Gilles intends to continue with this philosophy, creating 'experimental and refined design pieces that are at once rooted in tradition and history. Timeless pieces that are fresh and unexpected, but also minimal and warm at the same time.'
His vision places the enhancement of the raw material at the centre. 'Every product must bring out the beauty of the wood, the beauty of solid oak in all its aspects. People should feel that these designs could only be made in solid wood, as if they were carved from one single block.'
Special attention is paid to the tactile and material aspect of the surfaces. 'We want people to perceive the grain of the wooden essence used in the pieces as well as the depth of the stone. Milla&Milli wants to fascinate with the quality of its textures: for instance, with the deep sanding of the wood on the legs of the Edge collection, which reveals the veins of a wood that seems to turn into charcoal when used in black.'
More information:
Milla&Milli
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www.millamilli.com