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Purple South in St Moritz

Photo: Living Case

Five Glides in Teak have found a new home on the terrace of a stunning apartment designed by the Zuerich interior design company LIVINGCASE AG (www.livingcase.com). The apartment is located in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

We managed to find a source for certified Teak which allows us to go fully weather - proof whithout feeling guilty for purchasing dodgy rainforest timbers.

Incubation news

Photo: Boris Kraft

In co-operation with Unitec's School of Design, Auckland’s first Design Incubator will be launched shortly.

Purple South and the interior design company Admiro will run their businesses as “Business in Residence” from the Mt Albert Unitec Campus, and share premises with design graduates to mentor them through the first years of their own business.

The Incubator - yet to be named - enjoys huge support by Unitec's School of Design, who not only provide free space, but also use of the workshops, some computer soft- and hardware as well as plenty of advice and hands-on help - especially by the Head of School David Hawkins and Senior Lecturer and 'Designer in Residence' Roger Bateman.

Rocking News

Photo: Mark Adams

In 2006, the GLIDE - designed by David Trubridge for Purple South – has been the company’s number one export product.

Purple South has profited from David’s international explosively raising profile on one hand, but also felt, that the design being featured on the cover page of the new Eco Design Source Handbook by eco design guru Alastaire Fuad-Luke played part in the success.

The Glide has been mainly sold to clients in New York, France, England and Switzerland.

Import’ent news

Photo: DROOG

Purple South has taken over the New Zealand agency for dutch design company DROOG DESIGN. The label was directly approached by DROOG after a referral by Ed Annink – one of the DROOG founders and Purple South designers.

Although the import of product was never on the to-do list, Purple South saw the need to make some of the award winning DROOG product available in New Zealand - especially with Wellington's Dowse Gallery featuring a huge DROOG retrospective.

More good news

Photo: Roberto Buzzolan

Two pieces of the tableware range designed by Ed Annink – “LONG RUN” & “70 CM FRUIT” (top and bottom piece seen above) have been chosen by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York for retail in their shops in the near future.

Photo: Haru Sameshima and Mark Adams

The Strata bench by Werner Aisslinger has been confirmed to soon become part of the DESIGN WITHIN REACH (DWR) catalogue.

DWR is America’s leading online design retailer, whose customers buy online, but are invited to touch, try and test product in one of 65 DWR-Studios throughout the US.

Best news ever

Photo: Purple South

The main reason of the company’s owners Amanda Hookham and Oliver Kraft for taking it slow recently is the arrival of their daughter Ayesha, in their own words, “she is the best we have ever produced”.

Despite the philosophy of Purple South to measure success not by profit - but by time spent with your loved ones, 2006 was also the best year financially, with 80% of the turnover generated through export.

Essenze’ial news

Photo: Roberto Buzzolan

DOGGY – a side table designed by Paris based British designer Matt Sindall is the latest design added to the Purple South range. It has been launched in New York during the ICFF in 2006, and has since then been exhibited and published in China, USA and Europe. Many of the exhibitions have been realized by Essenze - a company that specializes in the worldwide marketing of New Zealand design.

New Home Office?

Photo: Roberto Buzzolan

Home office fit out in Auckland using Strata Stools, PS Shelf and PS Table - all designed by Werner Aisslinger for Purple South. The setting has been staged to promote parts of the Purple South range as home office fitting - New Zealand style.