The lighting industry’s embrace of technology and beautiful design was on full display at the High Point Market.
The most striking — and talked about — example of those two things working in concert with each other is the new Snaps collection from Hubbardton Forge. It is a lighting system comprised of LED alabaster disks that can be snapped to a conductive leather strap and then hung or draped in any number of configurations. It is fully customizable in terms of the number of disks and straps chosen and how they are arranged; there are three leather color options (white, chestnut or black) and four finish options (white, black, sterling or modern) offered at the outset, but through Hubbardton Forge’s partnership with Spinneybeck leather, it can be further customized with different leather colors and textures.
The ability to completely hide the wiring is what makes the design a standout; it is similar to the show-stopper necklace-like pendants that debuted several markets ago and continue to evolve with new designs. For example, designer Sean Lavin introduced a new collier-style style pendant for Visual Comfort called Catena; its meticulously constructed hardware connects faceted, rectangular crystals through screw-less links that allow electricity to flow through the entire piece.
Advancing technology is also at the heart of the rechargeable cordless lamp craze. Currey & Company and Uttermost were among those who entered the category this market, both with an assortment of lamps in various sizes and materials.
New partnerships in lighting were also a hallmark of this market: Barclay Butera launched a collection with Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting (a company that also brought the Spanish Mariner lighting brand to market for the first time). Hinkley Lighting extended its collection with designer Lisa McDennon. Visual Comfort added Anne-Marie Barton to its deep roster of design partners. Barton, a Utah-based interior designer, employs a “crafted modern” style to create warm, moody interiors using tactile materials such as boucle and sueded leathers; her new lighting pieces make use of hammered and bronzed metals to accent wall sconces and table lamps.
Visual Comfort also highlighted its new partnership with the crystal company, Waterford. Its Copper Coast pendant showcases two different Waterford cuts in conical-shaped pieces joined together by a metal band, which houses the integrated LED. The Killarney chandelier is a scaled-down modern interpretation of the Waterford crystal chandeliers commissioned by the Guinness family in 1965 for the 900th anniversary of the founding of Westminster Abbey. It features chamfered clear crystal on a brass frame. Also in the collection are cordless lamps and sconces.
And British lifestyle brand Buster + Punch made its High Point debut with a lighting collection of chandeliers and pendants that channel a rocker/biker vibe using metal knurling, burnt steel finishes and leather cords. It showcased its Heavy Metal chandelier at market, a 31-light drop in a cascade formation. The proprietary “Buster Bulbs” used are a modern interpretation of the Edison bulb, encased in a polycarbonate tube and crowned with a knurled band. The 12-year-old brand is perhaps best known for its crafted metal hardware, as well as its unique switches, dimmers and lighting controls. It also offers outdoor lighting and sconces and will launch a cordless lamp collection by the end of the year, according to U.S. President David Schlocker.
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