A journey deep into the world of ETTORE SOTTSASS: discover the limited edition bottle designed by ETTORE SOTTSASS for ISSEY MIYAKE Perfumes.
The encounter with ISSEY MIYAKE
In 1997, during an encounter between the two artists, ETTORE SOTTSASS sketched a bottle for ISSEY MIYAKE. In 2009, ISSEY MIYAKE wanted to honour this renowned designer, whose work he particularly admires. This is how the L'Eau d'Issey ETTORE SOTTSASS Edition came to be. Only 2000 of these exclusive, rare bottles were made. Close collaboration with Studio ETTORE SOTTSASS made it possible to produce this work of art despite its technical complexity. Learn more about how the bottle was crafted
A bottle designed by Ettore Sottsass
In 1997, ETTORE SOTTSASS created a bottle for ISSEY MIYAKE Perfumes. His original sketch featured a transparent tapered oval glass bottle.
This transparency is illuminated by bright, fluorescent-coloured strands - red, orange, pink - that intertwine inside the bottle.
In the finest tradition of hand-blown glass, each bottle is a unique piece that requires over 30 minutes of glass-blowing.
Plastic was chosen for the twisting strands to ensure that the fluorescent colours - which the designer liked so much and were so present in his work - were just right.
The cylindrical “totem” case, inspired by Ettore Sottsass’s designs, provides the perfect packaging for this precious bottle.
ETTORE SOTTSASS: the man
ETTORE SOTTSASS was a trained architect and leading figure on the Italian design scene. His works were extremely varied, ranging from industrial design to handcrafts.
He left a considerable legacy to industrial design
(Valentine d’Olivetti, Alessi, Apple…). He founded the Memphis Group and worked with some of the world’s most well-known designers and architects. One of his friends, Shiro Kuramata, introduced him to ISSEY MIYAKE.
His shapes are simple, limpid, totem-like and geometric. He believed that circles, cylinders, squares, lines and dots were enough to express oneself.
He made no difference between small objects and grand architecture.
His approaches to both were the same.
ETTORE SOTTSASS: his works
A free-spirited, non-conformist intellectual, in his lifetime ETTORE SOTTSASS was a designer, architect, ceramist, artist and photographer.
He explored all creative domains with a high degree of freedom.
