Embarking on its first foray into homewares, jewellery label RÄTHEL & WOLF has launched a new tableware collection.
Based between London and Berlin, avant-garde jewellery brand RÄTHEL & WOLF has become renowned for its striking, non-invasive (no piercing required) collections and responsible approach to design. Founded in 2017, Sari Räthel and Ricarda Wolf set out to create jewellery which celebrated the body, and the duo’s refreshing input into an industry steeped in tradition has since caught the attention of many. Now, nearly seven years on since its inception, the studio is turning its attention towards homewares, launching a new tableware collection which was previewed at Berlin Fashion Week earlier this year before becoming available online last month.
The decision to venture into a new sector came about after a trip to one of Europe’s last gemstone towns in Germany. With gem carvers still in practice in the town, keeping the traditional craft alive, it was a box of agate leftovers in a workshop that caught the attention of the creative duo. Seeing the beauty in these discarded materials, Räthel and Wolf set about in reimagining them as practical, yet sophisticated, utensils for serving, eating and table decorating.
The passion to find purpose in leftover materials is something the studio prides itself on and, in combining the agate with steel, they created an exquisite selection of contemporary tableware which pays homage to the future-focused mindset of the team. Including items such as spoons, chopsticks, dishes, trays and incense and candle holders, it showcases how waste can find new life when designers think outside the box.
Centred on these core values of social and environmental responsibility, the footprint of each creation influences every design decision the studio makes. The steel parts are produced locally in Berlin while new collections are designed to incorporate remaining materials from previous production batches. Added to this, the RÄTHEL & WOLF workshop runs on green energy and elements such as packaging are kept to a minimum with only recycled and recyclable materials used.
By merging the worlds of fashion and culinary art, the studio’s launch of the collection at Berlin Fashion Week in June allowed visitors to interact with it for the first time. Partnering with food artist Caique Tizzi, the pieces were displayed in an experiential setting alongside a new jewellery collection from the brand. Visitors sampled edible treats from the tableware whilst trying on jewellery, with unexpected tastes and flavours adding to the futuristic feel of the installation.
As this collection shows, the design sensitivity of RÄTHEL & WOLF is what sets them apart. And, in creating with the next life in mind, it allows the studio to produce unique and extraordinary designs from a wide selection of materials. By utilising a waste resource from the fashion world and applying it to interior accessories, it also highlights how cross-sector collaborations can strengthen our chances of creating a more circular design world. As this exciting chapter begins and the duo look forward to what lies ahead, it will be fascinating to witness which sector they might bring their thought-provoking vision to next. Watch this space!
Imagery courtesy of RÄTHEL & WOLF.
