It's kind of cool to see how some long-standing brands re-invent their products to appeal to a more contemporary sensibility. I know I've mentioned this before with Swarovski, whose newest jewelry designs are a huge step away from the tacky, sparkly work that they are so well known for, and use crystal as a medium, rather than a decoration.
So, I was really interested to see these new items from Lladro. I have always been a fan of Lladro, and my grandma in England gave our family several pieces over the years. There is a beautiful feminine grace to their porcelain that is really lovely to look at. The classic figurines, which have always been their signature, are usually soft mauves and pastels, with a thick glaze and sentimental themes...which, although beautiful, probably seem outdated to some.
It's been a while (years and years) since I've looked at any Lladro...But I'm absolutely stunned at where they've brought their product lately, and some of the smart risks they are taking (jewelry, fragrance). With the popularity of home decor, and the emphasis on 'design'...these changes and reinterpretations within the Lladro vocabulary struck me as very clever, thoughtful and responsive adaptations. I can only imagine the brainstorming meetings with their branding, creative and marketing teams. Yikes.
Much of the new work is a great mix of abstract ideas brought to life through the virtuosity of Lladro's knowledge of the media-- glazes, fine porcelain flowers, and the willingness to explore new ground, the fantasy in their pieces lives on-- but in a more relevant way.
A sidenote: A big thank you to all who weighed in on yesterday's post-- I felt a little bad posting something without a ton of pictures to go with it! But, I'm so glad that the subject was thought provoking, and I, for one, really enjoyed reading the responses.
