Gan looks ahead to summer with Surf Bench

The brand Gan immerses us in the coolest summer spirit with its Surf Bench rug, designed by Alejandra Gandía-Blasco.

The Surf collection of wool rugs is handmade in India and inspired by the tropical islands where surf culture was born. The rugs pay homage to the iconic surfboard that embodies the free, adventurous spirit associated with this way of life. The collection combines wool in warm and cold colours and ethnic motifs which allude to different oceans and seas. As Gandía-Blasco says, ‘The idea for Surf Bench came to me easily — why not raise a rug off the ground rather like a surfboard rides the waves?’
What’s more, this year, during the Milan Furniture Fair, Gan showed its Raw and Waan rug and cushion collections, Grapy chair and Mix&Match trays.

Raw, designed by Borja García, comprises rugs, pouffes and cushions and is inspired by traditional Mediterranean architecture which fuses tradition and modernity. And the Waan rugs and cushions mix considered sobriety with bewitching simplicity. ‘Waan means deception or mirage in Dutch. This is what happens on the surface of the carpet. You don’t know if you see a colour or grille or how the weave has been created,’ says it designer Dienke Dekker. Meanwhile, Grapy is a chair inspired by a real incident experienced by Kensaku Oshiro, its Japanese designer. ‘I was inspired by the image of a farmer sitting on a jute sack,’ he says. That’s how the idea for this collection was conceived — to enjoy many hours of relaxation. Finally, the Mix&Match trays, designed by ceramicist Flavia Del Para, explore geometry. ‘These can be used as platters or small tables for serving and presenting food or as stands to display a work of art or beautiful plant,’ explains the designer.
Gan, Gandia Blasco’s homeware brand, was founded in late 2008 to give the firm’s textiles line its own identity. Since then, it’s become an internationally renowned brand, with a presence in the world’s major cities.