Thom Browne's Cooperation With Frette Presented During The Milan Design Week 2024

utilizing themes of the sublime, repetition, and individuality explored through uniformity, thom browne is known for subverting traditional design codes to recontextualize modern culture. his antithetical vision comes to life in surreal ways, mining the public consciousness for points of inspiration as disparate as the bauhaus concept of gesamkunstwerk and fairy tales such as cinderella. thom browne's past works have included performance art and hand-made sculptures; architecture and proportion are often a key element in his fashion practice.

with …TIME TO SLEEP…, his debut installation at salone del mobile, browne has identified palazzina appiani, a succinct representation of neoclassicism, as an unlikely venue for a nap. an immediate dialogue emerges between the generous proportions of the hall of honor and six simple mid-century cots. positioned in the center of the hall, the cots are made up with custom thom browne by frette bedding in fine cotton sateen, detailed with browne’s signature four-bar insignia. the room is empty until it is not. one by one, six individuals enter. they are dressed for sleep. yet, when they arrive at their respective beds, they do not get in. instead, they dress for the work of their dreams; in browne’s signature grey reinterpretation of the mid-century office uniform. only when they are in their grey suits are they prepared to voyage to the dream world; sounds of slumber and lullabies escort their journey.

while they sleep, an uncanny yet synchronous relationship develops between the mundane activity of their naps and the symmetrical environment of the napoleonic-era space. the performance and installation challenges the audience to question the role of dress in public life.

consistent with the theme of repetition, …TIME TO SLEEP… references browne’s past performance art, such as his presentation in florence at pitti uomo immagine in 2009. complete with 40 identical desks and clerks engaged in synchronized typing, that presentation introduced his practice to europe. past thom browne designs have been shown at the victoria & albert museum, the cooper hewitt national design museum, the museum of modern art, the metropolitan museum of art, and design miami basel.

thom browne is proud to partner with frette for a continuation of the brands home furnishings offerings, reflecting his personal interest in the ever growing category. renowned for approaching comfort with the finest fibers, studied details, and master craftspeople, the 160-year-old italian label reflects thom’s appreciation of heritage textiles and artisanal techniques. comprised of bedding, bath linens, robes and more, the collection is available beginning april 16 on thombrowne.com and at thom browne stores around the world.

cut from white cotton sateen, the capsule’s duvet and sheet sets are finished with frette’s exclusive method (ideated in 1903) which enhances softness and imparts a subtle shine. the bedding is accented with a custom label and 4 lines of grey embroidery, a nod to thom browne’s signature emblem. the motif appears again in ivory atop a grey wool-cashmere blanket, throw, and decorative cushion.

bath accessories include a set of plush guest, face, and bath towels and a quilted bath mat—each with a 4-bar border. in light grey yarn-dyed cotton velour, the bathrobe’s silhouette is informed by the classic trench coat and detailed with thom browne’s iconic wrwbw grosgrain trim along the cuffs and back collar. its dressing gown counterpart is crafted exclusively of cashmere and trimmed with inwoven 4-bar. accessories that venture beyond the home, a white gym towel with wrwbw grosgrain and white beach bag with grey 4-bar are constructed with soft terry cotton.

debuting in a special performance at salone del mobile milano at the palazzina appiani this april, the collection is a rare extension of thom browne’s considered home collection.