Moooi crossed the ocean and landed in New York to open its first showroom and brand store in the U.S., introducing a “brand” new world of design opportunities in Manhattan’s Nomad area. Moooi New York opened its doors to the public on the May 14, just in time to celebrate NY Design Week.
Moooi is the very first Dutch design brand opening a store in the upcoming Nomad area, which is known for its fine architecture and central location next to the iconic Chrysler and Empire State buildings. Having developed at a quick rate over the last years, Manhattan’s Nomad area has rapidly become an attractive commercial hub for stylish brands; Moooi is delighted to take up residence next to luxurious hotels, quality restaurants and cutting-edge mono- and multi-brand stores.
Says Moooi’s CEO and founder Casper Vissers, “New York is the capital of the U.S. and Manhattan is the place to be for an upscale design brand. We need to have a clear first-hand representation of who we are and what we stand for.”
Five years ago Moooi began conquering the U.S. market as a consequence of its rapid growth. Says Vissers, “The clients in the U.S. needed a lot of service so we decided to ship out most of our products, commence warehouse activities and start invoicing in U.S. dollars. It became the natural moment to found Moooi USA Inc., daughter of Moooi BV.”
The time has come to invest in the brand’s image and immense potential by showing the U.S. public that Moooi is not only about ground-breaking lighting products but also about exceptional furniture, a brand-new Moooi Carpets collection, and a whole lifestyle experience based on the belief that design is a question of love.
“Moooi is an urban brand designing for a new world, delivering the coolest things together with a sense of surprise and expectation,” says Moooi’s art director Marcel Wanders. “It fits perfectly with the city’s vibe and has achieved a great following, even before the opening of Moooi New York.”
The 3.875-square-foot interior is defined by a characteristic raw concrete structure and flooring, which englobes an eclectic mix of designs and acts as a creative platform to showcase products, designers and lifestyle ideas for inspirational homes. “Its eclectic atmosphere, connected to the cultural world, and its interesting designs will certainly inspire all sorts of people and bring an addition to the design world of Manhattan,” says Vissers. “Behind every product exposed is a great story and that will be translated to the public by specifically trained personnel.”
A clear testimony of Moooi’s active role in the cultural world is the enduring collaboration that Moooi initiated with artist Rahi Rezvani. A selection of his photography will be exposed at Moooi’s collection presentation in Milan and then on the walls of the New York store, embracing its interior with a powerful stream of human depth, energy and emotion. Beauty rules in this marriage of creative minds.
Next to the entrance door, the shop window reveals an inspirational home environment that will certainly engage the onlookers with interesting interior ideas. Just inside, on the left side of the entrance wall, Moooi spells its name in the universal braille language with the use of Round Prop Lights by Bertjan Pot. While in the first part of the store poetic haikus reveal in an instant how Moooi’s different products can be combined to complement each other; in the central area several inspirational settings showcase different solutions to improve the interior design of homes, offices and public spaces. Right at the back of Moooi’s showroom and brand store a skylight brings daylight to its deepest section, highlighting the skillful interiors by showing off their colours and beauty. A multifunctional room and an upstairs office space of 538 square feet complete the picture.
A number of fascinating carpets of different shapes and sizes are on display, intensifying the product haikus and completing the settings with their innovative designs and vibrant colours. They belong to the new collection of Moooi Carpets, a brand-new company that offers a wide range of carpet designs and countless customizing possibilities to always find the perfect match for any kind of interior.
Since Moooi is a forward-thinking brand that always looks at the bigger picture, the showroom and brand store will be a focal point for architects, designers and design lovers, in order to gather ideas during their daily quest for beauty and inspiration. “Together we can create pure magic,” says Wanders, who is looking forward to all the amazing projects to come. “They will experience unexpected design and beauty with a European twist!” Everybody will be welcomed in Moooi’s learning and sharing platform where beauty, information, curiosity and fun will converge to connect to the contemporary culture and contemporary people.
The Manhattan showroom/brand store is the pilot project for Moooi USA. “I am pretty sure that soon enough there will be at least one more Moooi store on the West coast. California would be the next logical geographical choice,” says Vissers.
For the moment the Moooi team is looking forward to establish its unexpected welcome in New York and share unique design products and its love for life, fun, culture, stories and new experiences.
Says Wanders, “Moooi is an urban brand designing for a new world, it fits perfectly with the city’s vibe and has achieved a great following, even before the opening of Moooi New York.”
For more info, visit http://www.moooi.com/us