Newcomers at Tendence

WORDS: Annemarie Meintjes

Once again, Tendence in Frankfurt brought together the world’s key players in gifting and home accessories. Add these newcomers to your Christmas list – you can be sure their products will be in stores by the time you’re ready to shop.

Stelton

Stelton has started a brand-new kitchenware brand with its own universe and brand values called “Rig-Tig”. This translates to “Right” – the right products with the right design that are right for the environment at the right price. The range includes functional, affordable items that are great to look at.

I’ve selected a few products that I wouldn’t mind finding in my Christmas stocking, but be sure to view their other products on www.rig-tig.com:

– Stelton’s Bread Box has a lid that doubles as a cutting board. The box is made of bamboo melamine (30% natural bamboo fibres are added to melamine), while the lid is pure bamboo.

– The Carafe Cleaner consists of a chain that’s attached to a silicone stopper. Simply fill the carafe with water and a bit of dishwashing liquid; then put the chain inside and shake the carafe. The chain will loosen up the calcium residue without damaging the glass.

– The Pastry Roller with Mat is another clever, space-saving concept. When not in use, the mat is stored in the roller.

– I love their smart, stackable Storage Boxes, which introduce lids made of a new material called wooden plastic composite – a combination of wood and plastic that makes for an exciting new look.

Alessi

Alessi (www.alessi.com) stole the limelight with their new designer products. My favourites were:

– Marcel Wanders’ Dutch-Baroque tableware range called “Dressed”. I liked the round steel trays, dipped in epoxy resin, which is available in black and white.

– Patricia Urquiola’s steel wire range of baskets called Spirogira.

– Pierre Charpin’s stainless-steel folding knife called Il Canif.

Menu

Menu (www.menu.as) had great gifts for people who have everything. And, just in case you don’t know, we have two Menu shops in South Africa: one in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and one in the food court in Hyde Park Shopping Centre in Johannesburg.

My picks from Tendence include:

– The Barcelona Birdfeeder – an avant-garde bird pavilion in honour of legendary designer Mies van der Rohe. The pavilion is a combined birdbath and table, made from hardwood acacia and inspired by one of Mies’ masterpieces: the renowned Barcelona Pavilion (1929). Monique Engelund designed the birdfeeder.

– The Cool Breather, designed by Norm, is a carafe with an integrated re-usable cooling stick that aerates while keeping wine refreshingly cold (without the inconvenient use of ice and ice buckets). The cooling stick contains water. You simply freeze it and put it back in the carafe.

– The Pipe Candleholder design, inspired by the Vikings and crafted in cast iron, can be hammered into any type of wood. It was created by acclaimed Danish designer Pernille Vea, which received the “Most Wanted Designer” honour from Wallpaper magazine.