Pamela Copeman » Recap: Brizo Fashion Week & Jason Wu, Part One

Recap: Brizo Fashion Week & Jason Wu, Part One

Sep 11 2012 · 2 comments · Design Events, Meanderings, My Paintings ·1

Most other designers follow trends, Jason Wu creates them.

This sentiment was expressed at the post-runway show cocktail party with Jason Wu last Friday during Brizo Fashion Week ~ and I couldn’t agree more! I am so proud and fortunate to count myself among the “Blogger 19” for Fall 2012, what an incredible trip!

Fellow Blogger 19 member Sarah Sarna did an excellent post introducing all of the interior designers that attended Brizo Fashion Week, read it on her blog

During the three day workshop, brand immersion, and networking experience sponsored by Brizo, our group became close very quickly. From the first sip of champagne on Wednesday night to the seminar room where we were introduced firsthand to the creative Brizo collections of faucets and accessories to our final cocktail party with Jason Wu we bonded over design and fashion. This Blogger 19 is certainly a group of the most outstanding, successful, bright, warm-hearted designers ~ who just so happen to be fashionistas in great shoes!

Additionally, the Brizo Team that hosted the event was truly a Dream Team. They called us by name and made us feel welcome from the moment we met them, making us feel like long lost friends. I found the Brizo Team to be so companionable with one another I just wanted to bask in their glow and drink in their positive spirit. Upon reflection I think it has to do with the fact that they work in the Midwest. The reputation of warmth and kindness really does shine through. Of course, I have to mention they are all passionate about Brizo and they all happen to be geniuses, definitely a winning combination!

Today I want to share a peek into the creative process that goes into the production of a designer faucet and accessory line.

Looking into the future is definitely a theme for Brizo. They seem to have a crystal ball and are creating faucets with technology that will take all of us to the future. Brizo believes that luxury should not only be beautiful but sustainable as well.

The seminar room had a beautiful display of Brizo faucets. When I first entered they appeared to be like sculptures to me. The curves of the designs were so striking and unique. Each faucet was a work of art, and these designs from Brizo are definitely museum worthy.

Some of the Blogger 19 taking their seats on day 1, aren’t they lovely?

This is Brian Nobbe, the Marketing Director of Brizo. Brian welcomed us to the more formal part of our event with his winning smile and spoke with pride about the company. Brian was so approachable throughout the entire 3 days, he even cooked with us at an after-hours event at Sur la Table!

Pictured here: Judd Lord, Celine Kwok and Seth Fritz, designers for Brizo. This is a real trifecta of talent. We found out that Judd is also quite a comedian as well as a most informative and hilarious speaker. He won us over with his humor and his charm.

Ahhhh, the Jason Wu collection for Brizo. I’ve highlighted this collection previously on the blog {here} and I loved hearing the story behind its creation ~ and it is a FAB story. Since 2006, Brizo has been the primary sponsor of Jason Wu fashion shows. In 2011, Jason Wu and Brizo came together to begin their collaboration on faucet and accessories, described below:

“Two young fashion brands. One shared aesthetic. A project cementing their relationship, merging design and technology. An ascending designer’s entrance into the world of interiors. The definitive statement on fashion for the home.”

Not long after the original partnership was forged, Michelle Obama wore a Jason Wu dress to the inaugural ball and the rest, as they say, is history.

But first, the evolution and inspiration of the Jason Wu for Brizo collection is what I find fascinating…

The story is that when Jason first met with the team of designers the one element he insisted on was a matte black finish for the faucet ~ unique and fashion forward to be sure. Pictured above is one of the first sketches of the Jason Wu faucet, born out of a collaboration between Wu and the Brizo design team. I loved seeing the rough rendering on the left and the more refined one on the right.

Now, once this very modern, sleek, and minimalist faucet was decided on, the Brizo team asked Jason for an inspiration board of ideas for the accessory part of the suite. Pictured above is some of what he provided for them: a board of European damasked walls, formal architecture and ornate interiors… seemingly quite a juxtaposition to the faucet design.

This was part of the fashion collection he introduced that year. I think you can see the influence of the curved interiors on the lines of the dress and the fabric design. But how would it all come together for the Brizo collection?

Voila, the Brizo team designed a backplate for the towels bars and other accessories The shape is remarkably similar to the wallcovering on Wu’s inspiration board. What an incredible collaboration!

Perhaps the most amazing part of the Jason Wu collection and all of the Brizo faucets is something you don’t see: the technology inside of them. Thanks to Brizo team member Mandy’s introduction, I now have an understanding of this technology. The apparatus pictured above allows the user of Jason Wu’s faucet (as well as others in the Brizo line) to turn on the faucet without touching the handle — AT ALL! You simply pass your hand within 4 inches of the spout and the water comes on. No more worries about bacteria when you’re handling chicken!

What about temperature control, you ask? Well, they’ve figured that out as well. Judd is holding a demo faucet that shows a temperature indicator displaying bright pink which signals hot and guess what, it gradually turns blue for a colder temp. Genius!

Brains and beauty in a faucet ~ excellent job, Brizo!

New friends (not all pictured), I miss you already…

Be sure to stop by later this week for another Brizo Fashion Week recap post highlighting the fashion portion of the week! In the meantime, stop by the Brizo website and check out their amazing products! I hope you’ll be as inspired as I was…