Posen, best known for his high-end apparel and accessories collections for women and men, is working with Monogram engineers on appliance design.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Zac Posen, best known as a designer of luxe fashion and accessories, is adding another category to his high-end portfolio: appliances for Monogram.
In an interview at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) Tuesday, Posen said he has always been a passionate cook, adding he was approached by Monogram as part of its drive to raise brand image. He praised its “outstanding commitment to quality — which is so rare today.”
In this collaboration, Posen is designing a Column refrigerator panel as a high-fashion accent piece. “I can bring my expertise in design to this best-in-class brand — that’s made in America.” It’s an example of how Column appliances can be uniquely personalized, and it’s the first of other exclusive projects planned with Posen this year.
The effort is part of Monogram’s latest branding campaign, “Elevate Everything,” which was unveiled at KBIS. Ed Mammorella, merchandising manager for the brand, said the campaign focuses on one product at a time — in this case, the pizza oven, which is the first indoor electric pizza oven that doesn’t require ventilation. The strategy is to “partner with great artisans to highlight the qualities, elegance and sophistication of Monogram’s product,” he said.
“Zac’s passion and pride for his brand make him the perfect ambassador for Monogram,” he added. “It’s a bonus to partner with a designer who equally enjoys spending time in the kitchen, as his latest cookbook, “Cooking with Zac,” attests.”
In addition to Posen, Monogram partnered with Anvil Goods, a high-end custom woodworking company in Grand Rapids, Mich. Anvil hand-crafted a unique pizza peel, piecing together and inlaying different wood species, adding a band of brass and lining the base of the peel with brass for stability.
Posen signed about 250 copies of his cookbook at Monogram’s booth at KBIS, which showcased a number of new products in the Monogram family. He began working on the book, selecting and testing recipes, about four years ago, and it was published in October.
Posen will also design a collection of cooking-related accessories for Monogram, but details on this line are still under wraps.
Monogram is rolling out the campaign over the next year, and plans to focus on just a few products each year.
Posen observed there are parallels between apparel design and industrial design. “In both, the design has to be perfected, the product has to function, and it has to last. And you interact with [a fine appliance] much in the same way you interact with fine apparel.
“All design is about form and function,” he added. “Food is a great partner to fashion. They’re both sensory experiences. Food is an incredible way for a person who’s not involved in a creative field to express creativity. And for me, after an intense fashion season, cooking is my fashion detox.”
