Today, Tory Burch is releasing her new home collection, available through Moda Operandi. While some tableware, as well as the Spring Meadow glasses, may look familiar to fans of the brand, other components are decidedly different—including 50 antique and vintage objects sourced from around the world. “I grew up surrounded by found objects,” Burch tells AD PRO when asked why she decided to incorporate such pieces into this collection. “My parents were the ultimate collectors. They always brought things back from the places they went: antiques, pottery, and porcelain . . .”
This bricolage of visual influences clearly had an impact on Burch. And for anyone even somewhat familiar with her namesake fashion line, it’s long been clear that world travel (as well as her parents) has helped shape Burch’s visual point of view. However, in a sea of rich textiles designed exclusively for clothing and accessories, it’s a nice reminder to hear how firmly Burch’s formative experiences were rooted in the realm of design, and tableware in particular. The found wooden candleholders, ceramic bowls, and even porcelain fruits and vegetables now purchasable, are, one could argue, the fruits of a lifetime passion (pun intended).
Those who have followed Burch’s earlier forays into home products likely recall her collaborations with Dodie Thayer. Thayer, whose Lettuce Ware dishes, tureens, and more, have long made her an icon in some circles of design enthusiasts, is arguably known by a large swath of consumers thanks to Burch’s support of Thayer’s work. For years, Burch has sold a collaborative line of Thayer’s iconic leaf-shaped ceramics—meaning that the Palm Beach native’s creations once prized by Jacqueline Kennedy have found their way into many new customers’ homes. “I love how timeless our Dodie Thayer pottery looks,” Burch says of the pieces, which will now also be available through Moda Operandi. “It’s also very easy to mix with old porcelain from various places.”
Indeed, whether it’s Burch and Thayer’s pink iterations of the iconic designs (which were released earlier this year), or the various found items now for sale alongside them, that mixing and matching potential holds true. Almost seeming to summarize the guiding ethos behind these collective products, Burch notes, “I also love mixing old with new. I like bringing pieces together from different places and periods.”
If you’re wondering what exactly is so “new” about all this, besides colors, sourcing, and availability, the third and uniting factor is perhaps best saved for last. Rounding out this trinity of sorts is a new line of table linens from Burch. “The garden linens are inspired by my childhood bedroom,” she explains of her design inspiration. It’s the type of tidbit that’s likely to conjure up dream-inducing images of floral bedspreads overlooking nearby gardens. And for Burch, her own interiors have long served as fertile sources for fresh thoughts. “I’ve always been inspired by interior designers, from Billy Baldwin to Mongiardino,” she says. When asked how she hopes an interior designer might incorporate these latest Moda Operandi offerings into his or her designs today, she responds, “I would love them to encourage people to create tables with bold colors and impact.” A worthy goal, and one that will hopefully be realized shortly.
