Jonathan Charles offers line by designer Alexander Julian

Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, October 13, 2012

HIGH POINT - Designer Alexander Julian will offer a line of furniture inspired by his menswear designs with English manufacturer Jonathan Charles at this week's High Point Market.
     Each item in the 12-piece collection of mostly occasional and accent items takes inspiration from Julian's textile and color palettes.
Taking inspiration from the designer’s menswear, this Bowtie coffee table by Alexander Julian for Jonathan Charles features diagonal stripes and handinlaid wood.     Among its signature pieces are a Blazer chest with an all-over navy lacquer and nickel pulls resembling buttons on a double breasted blazer; Herringbone tables with a subtle plaid pattern on edges and tabletops; and tables with églomisé hand painted glass tops in a paisley print commonly found on Julian's collared shirts.
     "I've always been captivated by the beauty of Jonathan Charles' artistry with wood and their ability to highlight rich nuances, from the smallest wood grains to the most intricate inlaid wood designs," Julian said in a press release.
"The starting point was my signature blazer suit - the ultimate chameleon for sartorial versatility. From there, the collection really took off."
     Julian also has another licensed furniture collection with Vaughan-Bassett.
     In other Jonathan Charles news, the company has opened a new corporate headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The company said the move will help it develop relationships with high-end brands and designers.
    The space is more than double that of the company's former corporate facility and has order processing capabilities, an expanded sales office to handle customer relations, and it is adjacent to the company's factory.
     The former facility was 144,236 square feet, while the new space is about 398,641 square feet, company officials said.
     "We're increasing the workforce by recruiting more talented artisans to produce more furniture, which in turn bolsters the local economy," Jonathan Sowter, CEO and designer, said in a press release.
     "We're heading in a new direction; we now have the capability to collaborate with more designers to create innovative products that expands our design boundaries."