Q&A: Tom De Cock, Tribù
As Italian outdoor furniture manufacturer Tribù unveils its latest offering for Spring, we caught up with Managing Partner Tom De Cock to discuss the inspiration behind their latest product launches, the impact of coronavirus and the importance of the hospitality sector to their business.
What was the inspiration behind your Spring 2021 launches?
Ultimate comfort was one of the main principles behind the 2021 collection. With the pandemic, people were spending more time than ever in their gardens and we wanted to offer them the same level of comfort that they experience with their indoor furniture. The Senja lounger has a larger and more voluminous cushion than a standard lounger cushion, while the Nodi sofa features cushions with a new, revolutionary filling that provide the same softness as feathers and down. The Dunes side table has a sculptural, yet simple and familiar look. Its soft shape and simple form of a circle and bulbous base column works with any kind of furniture and will stand well next to a sofa, a lounger, a low chair. We also wanted to extend our accessories range because it’s the little details that uplift a setting.
What key materials were used to bring the new products to life?
For the Nodi sofa, we asked Yabu Pushelberg to use Canax® rope, which we developed ourselves in collaboration with one of our suppliers. It’s a mix of synthetic fibres, providing strength and weather resistance, with hemp which gives a natural touch, unlike most of the outdoor yarns on the market. Instead of a dense weave structure, George and Glenn used an open structure, intertwining a double thread to reinforce the strength. As for the Dunes side table, teak is one of our preferred materials because of its connection to nature – it greys and changes over time. We think that wood is becoming popular again because today people want to connect to nature. Besides, the organic form of the table lends itself to a natural material rather than a manmade material. Also, George and Glenn designed Dunes at the same time as the Nodi Sofa, although Dunes works well with other items, they thought it was a lovely juxtaposition – wood versus aluminium – opposites attract.
What kind of outdoor environments are the Spring 2021 products suitable for?
The Senja lounger is perfect next to the swimming pool of course, in both residential and contract situations. The Nodi Sofa is so modular that it can be considered for any environment. From a single lounge bed for a smaller balcony situation, to an extra-large corner sofa to invite friends and family. From a classic 2 or 3-seater for outdoor hotel lounge areas to méridiennes at the pool. The possibilities are really endless. As the filling of the cushions is water repellent, the cushions can stay outside, even during a rain shower.
How do you select the designers you work with?
At Tribù we think it is really important to work with people, whether it is an employee, a supplier or a designer, who share the same values: passion, authenticity, openness and respect. Their design ethos also has to be the same as ours: pure, simple forms with an extreme attention to detail and sense for refined, high-quality materials. We work with only a handful of designers because we value long-term relationships.
What brief did you give to Yabu Pushelberg for their new products?
For the sofa we merely asked them to use Canax® and to design an extremely modular and comfortable sofa. We are able to give our designers a lot of freedom since they know our DNA. In the production prototyping process, the challenge is keeping as close as possible to the original design.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in outdoor furniture design over recent years?
We’ve seen a lot of evolution in the range of fabrics that are offered. Taking into account the severe conditions outdoor materials have to withstand (UV rays, water, the risk of mould), it is amazing how we are now able to offer fabrics with the look and feel of indoor fabrics. The terrace has become a genuine room of the house and is being decorated as such with atmospheric lighting, rugs and cozy decoration cushions.
How important is the hospitality sector to Tribù?
Although our main focus will always be on retail, the hospitality market is becoming more and more important. We have had the opportunity to work on quite a few amazing projects, such as Four Seasons at the Surfside in Miami and St Regis Vommuli Resort in the Maldives, which is very rewarding. Servicing the hospitality sector requires a different approach – we offer our standard retail collection but within certain opportunities for customisation. As outdoor spaces are often the last area to be designed, quick delivery is key, and we have changed our operations in order to meet these standards. In order to accelerate our growth in hospitality we have recently implemented a dedicated contract team.
As an outdoor furniture brand, how has coronavirus affected Tribù and the way you approach future product launches?
We have been among the lucky ones to have had a very successful year. As people couldn’t travel and were restricted to their homes, they invested in their gardens. We will continue to refine our collections and take it further than just furniture by adding more accessories and lighting to create a total outdoor experience. As for the contract market, we will continue to concentrate on boutique hotels. We believe that, once people can travel again, they will prefer the safe environment of smaller hotels.
What’s next for Tribù?
We have a major project coming up, we are establishing a logistic centre in the US to service that part of world more quickly. We will have a dedicated commercial team too. We’re pretty excited about this as it will allow us to promote outdoor living on a global scale.
