With new brands cropping up every week, it can be hard to keep up with who’s doing what. From sustainable luggage through to industrial furniture, OPUMO stocks brands to watch through every discipline, and they’re all linked by one thing: a focus on great design.
If you’re on the look out for emerging brands with a focus on design and sustainable production, or interested in what new releases are on the market, you’re in the right place. Here are our brands of the week.
Brands of the week:
POLKRA
POLKRA is a forward-thinking homeware brand looking to do things slightly differently. Managing every level of its process from sourcing to production and distribution, POLKRA is known for its highly individual take on home accessories from towel sets to candles and even matchboxes.
Its latest collection of tea towels feature unique prints by artists including Julianna Byrne and Sainte Maria and are well worth a look if you want to spruce up your kitchen.
Ucon Acrobatics
Noted for its minimal designs and high quality construction, Ucon Acrobatics produces some of the finest bags around. From simple roll-top backpacks through to cross body bags, the Berlin-based brand is known for using sustainable fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, which give its products an ethical as well as aesthetic edge.
Peytil
Characterised by its simple line drawings and stark use of space and colour, Peytil artworks are incredibly easy to incorporate into virtually any room. Artist Eitil Thorén Due founded Peytil out of Stockholm, as a creative outlet he felt was lacking from his day to day work. Peytil has gone from strength to strength, with a number of limited editions pieces among its highlights today.
Maze
Founded in 2003, Maze has prided itself on producing minimal yet functional designs made to improve the home. The Swedish brand collaborates with local craftspeople, meaning all production of its furniture takes place in Sweden. As a result the brand is able to take quality control to the next level, while ensuring its slow production has a minimal affect on the environment.
House Babylon
As we spend more time at home, our attentions have turned to improving our living space. And what better place to start than with bedding? House Babylon specialises in producing exemplary bedding made from ethical cotton and linen in colours that are incredibly easy to blend in to a variety of interior designs.
Carl Friedrik
Starting out in the world of luxury luggage, Carl Friedrik has made a name for itself by crafting beautifully made, well executed leather bags the likes of backpacks and briefcases. The brand’s recent venture into desk accessories sets it apart though. Look out for its valet tray, mouse pad and desk mat, which are all made from the finest vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather and each come with a lifetime warranty.
Industville
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s lighting, there are few brands better to turn to than Industville. Based in London, Industville puts an industrial spin on everything it does, from pewter pendant lights to swan neck caged wall lights. The prices of its designs are surprisingly affordable too, making them an ideal option for those looking for exceptional attention to detail at wallet-friendly prices.
In case you missed last week's Brands to Watch, click here.
