Former Established & Sons director goes solo

Former Established & Sons design director Mark Holmes is set to launch his first solo venture since leaving the high-end furniture brand last year.

Minimalux, a collection of ‘small-scale, highly desirable, precious, practical objects’, will be unveiled later this month, promoted initially through a series of ‘introductory’ podcasts and website www.minimalux.com, complemented by an exhibition.

Holmes explains that Minimalux, the name of the company and of the collection, ‘describes what he does best’. ‘The product is formally comparable to an item from Muji, but it has the preciousness and premium finishing of Georg Jensen or Theo Fennell. It’s a perfect marriage of luxury and practicality,’ says Holmes.

Describing the collection, Holmes says, ‘The small scale and finishing is interesting, in that the product can’t be described simply as tableware, but it’s not jewellery either. It sits somewhere between the two.’

Plans for a ‘low-risk and modest’ business venture, according to Holmes, include international promotion and distribution across retailers worldwide. ‘Setting up in the current climate can be a positive thing,’ says Holmes. ‘It forces you to look at what you are doing in more detail, and focus on really delivering a relevant product. The market goes on, and there are still customers out there purchasing products. It’s about ensuring that the credentials of that product are spot on.’