We were so excited to learn, from Oh Joy!, that Urban Outfitters is creating an Alexander Girard collection that will hit stores in July...
The Girard collection for Urban will largely be bedding (which makes sense considering Girard was primarily a texile designer) The Urban design team had the run of the archives and picked some iconic Girard designs as well as some lesser known patterns from the Girard archives to use for the Urban products. As soon as we get more info. on the collection, we'll share it. But in the meantime, we couldn't resist sharing this pillow. We have a lot of Girard love!

We'll bring more news on the Girard/Urban collaboration as soon as we get it. In the meantime, here's some Girard reading to keep you busy:
Iconic Design: Alexander Girard's Environmental Enrichment Panels
Roundup: Alexander Girard Gift Ideas
La Fonda del Sol: Alexander Girard & FLOR
Thanks Sarah from MaXimo for the info on the upcoming collection!
(Tip Via Oh Joy!)
photo by Urban Outfitters, interior photo from Dwell


Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
IMHO, UO and Anthropologie are the places people go when they want that "unique" look without actually having to do any hunting...it also doesn't sit right with me where there money goes, but that's just me.
As a big fan of Girard's work, I don't want to feel sad about this...but I do.
I have a print of the "LOVE" heart in my house, and even though I won't like it any less, I do hope it doesn't eventually become recognizable as something branded by Urban Outfitters. Sigh.
(I'll just be over here, trying to get over myself.)
No doubt it will be cheaply made and imported from India or Bangladesh...
...and you'll soon see folks passing off the cheap stuff on eBay, etc. as originals.
Oh, shut it you bunch! I'm a textile/design lover, and I'm excited that I'll be able to get a little Girard love in my life without having to go to a museum, or crack open a book. Or go to some elitist snob's house, for that matter.
ugh sorry *their*
I'm happy for Girard's work to be more affordable it's too bad it can't be sold elsewhere.
srlsy, I can't tell if that's a man or woman with the pillow over their face...
I would love Girard for the masses, if it came from somewhere other than UO/Anthropologie, whose corporate leadership are donors and supporters of right-wing, anti-gay, anti-choice causes and politicians. I don't shop there, ever.
YES. A piece of Girard I can actually afford! I don't care where it comes from.
Don't think that just because you don't shop there personally that they will go out of business or stop their evil ways. Live in the real world people.
misha bk,
would you mind supplying where you found this information on where uo/anthro's money goes?
thanks!
h144,
i think that misha bk is probably referring to Dick Hayne's (founder/president of UO) now rather notorious donation(s) to former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. (misha bk, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.) it hit the media a few years back.
Right on, paintitbright!
I work at Anthropologie and just want to note that Urban's CEO Glen Senk is the only openly gay CEO in the Fortune 1000. Glen hosted a fundraiser for Democrat Bob Casey (who unseated Santorum) that raised nearly a hundred thousand dollars, and he’s been a big supporter of local congressman Patrick Murphy who supports the abolition of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.
The work environment at Urban is very gay-friendly -- my partner is covered under our benefits -- so I hate for the company to be seen as anti-gay.
I encourage anyone interested to google “Glen Senk” for more info
Another quote to back up what Michael said about Urban Outfitter's CEO Glen Senk:
“There is nothing homophobic about Dick Heyne,” he continued. “When he made these donations I said to him: ‘I’m personally offended by the fact that you would support this guy. If he had his way I’d be in jail’. And he said to me: ‘You’re right, I hate his views regarding homosexuality, but I’m not a one-issue voter’.”
Senk continued: “I’ll go on record saying I don’t think he should’ve done it. But, if you’re talking about Urban Outfitters, talk about me being the CEO, that I’ve given the maximum amount of financial backing to Obama, that I supported Dan Anders – one of the first gay judges in America. There is no organisation, that I’m aware of, that is more of a democracy than this company.”
From what I can see, if you choose to boycott Urban Outfitters simply because its founder made some (admittedly jackass) campaign contributions 4 years ago, you're more likely affecting the thousands of gay staff that the company employs every year under the direction of an openly gay, liberally-minded CEO.
I'm all for fighting the good fight against a company’s lack of ethics. This isn’t the good fight.