Wallpaper 5

Back

COS taps American artist

Phillip K Smith III for its relective

seventh installation at Salone

PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD BARNES WRITER: PEI-RU KEH

The fashion label COS is no stranger to crowd-pleasing

collaboration. Every year since 2012, the Swedish-

owned, London-based chain has worked with an array

of design talents, including Sou Fujimoto, Nendo and

Snarkitecture, to construct a series of installations at

Milan’s Salone del Mobile. Excitement around COS’

Milan projects increases exponentially with each new

edition. Last year – as it unveiled an ephemeral, multi-

sensorial experience by Studio Swine, based around a

blossoming tree of mist-illed bubbles – that excitement

ran to feverish. Sculptural, delicate and mesmerising, it

was easily the brand’s most memorable efort to date.

‘It’s not been our intention to create a biger and

biger presence in any way. We purely go on who we

really believe in and who we’re passionate about at that

moment,’ says COS’ creative director Karin Gustafsson

of the installations, which began with set designer

Gary Card creating a cube that could pull apart and

showcase the label’s wares. The brief is wide open.

They ‘focus on an understanding of our brand and

values, [but] we wouldn’t want to interfere with the

artist’s work – it’s not about that. It’s more about

sharing inspiration, and who we think is amazing.’

For this year’s iteration, COS asked American artist

Phillip K Smith III to join its creative roster. Smith,

a light-based artist best known for his relective

outdoor installations set against expanses of desert »

PALM SPRINGS-BASED ARTIST

PHILLIP K SMITH III WORKING

ON HIS INSTALLATION

FOR MINIMALIST FASHION

BRAND COS AT URBAN ART

PROJECTS’ LONG ISLAND

CITY PRODUCTION FACILITY

Salone del Mobile

MILAN

PREVIEW

2018