VENINI, Jil Sander, and Formafantasma unite to create Stone, a limited-edition glass vase series
In a compelling meeting of fashion, design, and artisan craftsmanship, VENINI has unveiled its inaugural collaboration with Jil Sander, curated by the design studio Formafantasma. This exceptional partnership unites the iconic Murano-based glassmaker with the luxury fashion house renowned for its minimalist sophistication, resulting in Stone—a limited-edition collection of hand-blown glass vases. Each piece is a testament to a shared philosophy of intuitive creation, material experimentation, and reverence for imperfection as a source of beauty.
Rooted in the poetic philosophy of “the beauty of the imperfect,” the Stone series is a celebration of spontaneity and material authenticity. Rather than imposing rigid designs, the creative process unfolds through a deep sensitivity to the medium itself. Glass—volatile, sensitive, and alive—is sculpted by the expert hands of VENINI’s master glassmakers without the use of moulds, allowing natural variations to become defining aesthetic features. These works transcend decorative function to become expressive objects charged with narrative and soul.
Formafantasma, known for its conceptual rigor and material research, approached the collaboration with an openness to experimentation. The designers embraced the unpredictable nature of glassblowing, allowing each vase to emerge organically through a dynamic interplay between hand, heat, and form. The result is not uniformity, but character. Each Stone vase bears unique traces of its creation: craquelé surfaces, air bubbles, and fine thermal fissures that evoke geological textures and tell the story of transformation through heat and touch.
The Stone collection includes four distinct shapes—Stone 01, Stone 02, Stone 03, and Stone 04—each offered in a Limited Edition of just nine pieces. The asymmetry and irregular contours are not flaws but deliberate gestures, emphasizing the individuality of each object. In this approach, design becomes less about control and more about conversation—between designer and craftsman, material and motion, tradition and innovation.
VENINI’s collaboration with Jil Sander underscores its commitment to evolving the art of glassmaking through contemporary dialogue. This project is not merely a fusion of disciplines; it is a cultural statement that elevates craftsmanship as a vital and modern language. As Silvia Damiani, President of VENINI, explains, this partnership is an act of creative courage rooted in mutual respect for heritage and experimentation. By merging Jil Sander’s pure aesthetic with VENINI’s centuries-old mastery and Formafantasma’s material sensitivity, Stone becomes more than a design project—it becomes a living expression of artistry in flux.
As luxury brands increasingly seek authentic, handcrafted narratives, the VENINI x Jil Sander collaboration sets a new benchmark for cross-disciplinary design. It redefines luxury not through perfection but through the singularity of each handmade form. In doing so, it reaffirms the relevance of traditional craft in contemporary culture, where unpredictability and process are no longer barriers but sources of profound artistic value.
All images by Guillam Cruells, with courtesy of Keywords Design
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