Soft lighting cast on tabletops from overhead. Passageways aglow from handheld lanterns. And beams of light directed to the task at hand. Every luminary by the French outdoor living brand Fermob fosters a lighting experience that can only be fashioned from marrying utility with each object’s personal narrative. From delighting public terraces and secret gardens to imbuing outdoor bistros with a little bit of romance, their eclectic solutions possess a je ne sais quoi best understood when fully immersed in its atmosphere. And options abound for end users to scene build with portable, table, and hanging variations – some of which incorporate smart technology.
Fermob’s modest in-house studio has been critical in cementing their status as iconic, garnering accolades including the prestigious Red Dot design award. The five-person team, whose creative process is supervised by CEO Bernard Reybier, is responsible for long-term creative collaborations with external designers, as well as proprietary product design. “The teamwork of a design studio that is part of an industrial operation is incredibly demanding, stimulating, and enriching,” says Diane Du Chaxel, a project manager within Fermob Design Studio. “This minimal circuit makes our decisions more meaningful,” adds Eric Bibard, manager of the Fermob Design Studio.
What’s more, the industry leading maker and manufacturer implemented sobriety initiatives, or rather sustainable practices, into their operations some 35 years prior to competitors “going green.” Product durability, responsible production, timeless design, and an extensive service life will have consumers enjoying the return on that investment for decades to come. Read more to discover the many personas within their collections.
APLÔ
An ingenious invention and the curious human spirit inspired APLÔ’s form. In collaboration with designer Tristan Lohner, Fermob captures the three main tenets guiding their products: simplicity, accessibility, and creativity. Like Edison’s lightbulb freeing man from the constraints of daylight, so too does this wireless luminary free its user from being tethered in place. APLÔ’s portable design is bolstered by a smattering of accessories to accommodate a variety of lighting solutions and convenient charging.
BALAD
Fermob forged ahead into a fresh product category with BALAD back in winter 2015 as the brand’s inaugural foray into lighting, launching an industry-first portable lamp at that. It also marked the first of many projects with long-time collaborator Tristan Lohner. The lantern’s glowing gumdrop body dons a headphones-inspired handle, which is now available in bamboo. While BALAD is best enjoyed on the move, customers may opt for a variety of stands when it’s time to settle down and admire its aura.
HOOPIK
Designed by J. Mazoyer-Do, the elegant HOOPIK ring light has a commanding presence as a standalone l’objet d’art. The table lamp’s scale punches up with an ethereal effect hard to miss and is available in a variety of soft, mineral colorways to maximize that aura. Although intended for indoor use, HOOPIK is resistant to splashes and impacts, and comes with all the conveniences typical of Fermob’s thoughtful solutions.
MOOON!
Akin to a Gibbous moon, the symbolic spherical shape takes inspiration from 19th century Parisian street lamps with a globe that rests atop a hairpin pedestal. The timeless design by Tristan Lohner offers stunning material contrast and a minimal form available as a table or floor lamp. MOOON! is suitable for use indoors and outdoors, imbuing spaces with the feeling of home through every passing season.
OTO
With character imbued by its anthropomorphic form, OTO combines playfulness and practicality for a table lamp as versatile as its brethren. The totem-like structure features two independent light sources that can be rotated 360˚ for direct or muted lighting, and is wireless, suitable for use indoors and outdoors. Noteworthy still, OTO is the fixture having earned the Fermob Design Studio a Red Dot design award.
ULLI
ULLI distills the camping lantern’s silhouette into a three-piece structure where the traditional form is suggested by negative space rather than a lighting element. The two-disc structure comprising a magnetic, chargeable base and indirect light oriented downward are held in beautiful tension by a continuous handlebar available in four classic colors. This portable lamp can be held or hung wherever outdoor adventure may land the user.
To view Fermob’s lighting, or to peruse other furnishings from the brand, visit fermob.com.
