Jules van den Langenberg recently graduated at Design Academy Eindhoven. His fascination for cultivating culture led to the establishment of a nomadic production house, a traveling studio in which Jules initiates and curates design processes. The young -Willy Wonka like- cult industrialist works on the development of two projects in the context of Dutch Design. Besides this he is developing his skills as designer of dialogues / cultural entrepreneur / design curator through freelance works in exhibition making, concept development and spin-doctoring. In October Jules’ nomadic production house will be present at Dutch Design Week 2013. During Salone del Mobile in Milan,  Jules shares with us some of his discoveries and « coup de coeur ».

Within an immense environment of a reconstructed 19th Century Railway Station at MOST, in the Museum of Science and Technology, Tom Dixon and Adidas presented a preview of their collaboration project during the Salone del Mobile. This reveal marks the beginning of a two-year partnership during which four new product collections of apparel, luggage and footwear will be launched, the first hitting global retailers in January 2014. The Milan Museum encapsulates the history of industrial travel and design, creating an appropriate and dynamic backdrop for the presentation of their project.

The capsule collection ‘everything-you-can-pack-neatly-in-a-bag-for-a-week-away’ provides the contemporary global citizen with a utilitarian yet aesthetically pleasing set of clothes that is based on flat packing,  expandability and multi-functionality. A workwear wardrobe full of grayish pastels combined with intense blues and yellows in which the skills of industrial designer Dixon and the qualities of sportswear company Adidas merged.

“Premiering new typologies of bags and apparel, the base of the collection comprises two travel bags typologies – the hard and the soft – an experiment in capsule thinking in which luggage unclasps, unzips and unfolds to reveal multiple layers. Inside, the bags reveal a complete kit of parts for our week long stay in Italy – neatly, crisply and compactly folded with maximum efficiency to provide a complete wardrobe for every possible occasion.” states Tom Dixon.

Noteworthy pieces from the collection are the Multi Purpose Suits, the Flat Pack Shoes and the Down Coat Sleeping Bag.

To be flat-packed in your travel bags, the light weight Flat Pack Shoes are made of a firm base to which a textile is attached that is flexible enough so it can be bend around your ankle. The ingenious construction of the shoe is presented in Milan by showcasing the few elements that need to be assembled to construct the footwear. Worn as a comfortable second skin, the ‘Down Coat Sleeping Bag’ enables its user to stay the night spontaneously. The coat’s double function lining can be unfolded- and transformed into a sleeping bag.

Both enabling a nomadic lifestyle.

adidas.com

www.tomdixon.net

www.mrtuft.tumblr.com

www.cultivatingculture.nl