From Milan to the world: Karl Lagerfeld's house has an Italian soul

It is difficult, if not impossible, to find someone in the universe of creatives to compare with Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away six years ago leaving indelible traces in the fashion houses where he worked, Chanel and Fendi in primis, but also in photography and communication. The most astonishing legacy, however, concerns the house collection of the brand that bears Lagerfeld's name, a project that the designer had undoubtedly been nurturing for years but which he did not have time to see blossom in its entirety. Like Giorgio Armani - whose home line is celebrating 25 years - Lagerfeld was convinced that there was a red thread, visible or invisible, between the clothing and furnishing choices we all make. The creative team that designs the Karl Lagerfeld-branded home collections - presented these days in Milan at the showroom in Via Passione - certainly has a lot to work with: the designer had personally designed some of the furniture in his many homes, particularly bookcases and sofas, and complements, textile elements and art de la table, were in his image and likeness. "One of Karl's many extraordinary talents was his ability to make even the most complex designs light and essential, and the K/Wellen collection, waves, in German, is a testament to this," explains Caroline Lebar, current vice-president of the Karl Lagerfeld maison (which ranges from clothing and accessories to jewellery, perfumes and eyewear and residential furniture projects) and a long-standing collaborator of the designer on interior design projects."Abstract and artistic, this collection is inspired by Karl's connection with architecture and sculptural objects," adds Toan Nguyen, the designer invited to contribute his K/Wellen experience and vision. "Building on the foundations of the last collection, which was strongly focused on upholstery, the extension introduces aluminium in a range of refined finishes, such as matt gunmetal, matt titanium and raw aluminium with a shiny effect, alongside mirrored surfaces. These are not merely functional furnishings, but gestures of craftsmanship and unique pieces of art".