At Salone del Mobile in Milan, Swiss furniture maker USM revealed a collaboration that speaks to a modern collector's spirit. The limited-edition modular cabinets, illustrated with Kasing Lung's 'Labubu Bob' character, function as both display case and art object. This fusion of high design and playful toy culture invites a consideration of how we curate our private worlds and the objects of our affection.
Historically, the cabinet has served as a keeper of intimate possessions. In the context of lingerie, armoires and dressing tables - like those from the storied French house Cadolle, founded in 1889 - were designed to safeguard delicate garments that expressed personal identity. This USM piece, while holding a contemporary monster, continues that tradition of creating a sanctified space for prized, personality-defining items.
The collaboration, exclusive to retailer Lane Crawford, includes an immersive Hong Kong pop-up, 'The Monsters' Tea Room.' It recalls a nostalgia not unlike the intimate histories woven into lingerie brands. Consider the Japanese label Wacoal, which began in 1946 as a maker of knitted underwear, building its reputation on comfort and fit - principles born from a specific cultural moment and personal need. Here, Lung's childhood memories inform the aesthetic, reminding us that the objects we cherish, whether worn or displayed, are often vessels for personal narrative and desire.
Originally reported by WWD