The vintage trend.
Some trends have a certain tendency to trivialize the original. I am particularly bothered by the Vintage classification, in new pieces whose quality is questionable and which only show disrespect for the history of Design.
I am interested in creativity and originality. I prefer a piece with signs of wear and tear over a replica. Ever. That's why whenever I can, I spend time at antique stores, secondhand stores, and auctions. It's like undertaking a treasure hunt. Adopting a used piece, bringing it back to life and letting it regain a new story is one of my missions in the world.
Forget the style, just bring me Love.
Obviously, as a Designer, I love new, branded or authored pieces. I also like IKEA or similar, if used in the proper project and in moderation. But damn, what better feeling than looking at a lost piece by Arne Vodder or Kofod-Larsen? Is it possible to resist the smell of natural wood when opening a drawer of a Gillow & Co. sideboard. or a Holland & Sons cabinet? In my opinion, hardly.
Of course, brands of this caliber come at a price, sometimes high, but let's see. You can buy a classic car such as a Jaguar DB5 for €1.5 million, or a Suzuki TS50 for €2,000. It's not the same thing, but both are classic and stupidly vintage. The same applies to furniture and decor. Search and you'll find originals, from lesser-known manufacturers, but with high quality and with that touch of a human hand, which seems more like divine origin.
If you want to be vintage go for the original.
This is my advice. Leave your computer and mobile phone and look for what you need outside the online world. Touch, smell, talk to the pieces. Make sure it talks back to you. They all have a special place in a given project. In the worst case scenario, you will discover magical places and amazing people. With fantastic stories that will make you richer, more aware and, above all, happier.
Rui Vasques Garcia
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