British brands don’t get more standout than Isokon, the London-based firm founded in 1931 that is responsible for some of the most well-loved designs of the last century. Architect Wells Coates and Jack Pritchard, a leader of the modernism movement, co-founded it with a shared vision: to design egalitarian housing and flats, with perfect furniture and fixtures to match.
In 1997, it became Isokon Plus and, in 2019, it was acquired by Very Good & Proper, another British brand with similar values of longevity and great design.‘I’d always been a huge fan of Isokon Plus,’ says Ed Carpenter, CEO of both companies. ‘The quality really stands out as something special. Over the years, Very Good & Proper had collaborated closely on many projects with Isokon Plus, so when the opportunity arose to join forces, it was an easy decision.’
It’s a brand-match made in heaven. Isokon Plus is known for its lasting partnerships with like-minded designers, from Marcel Breuer to Egon Riss, while Very Good & Proper champions makers such as Felix de Pass and John Tree, alongside its own designs.
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‘Naturally, there’s some crossover between the brands,’ says Carpenter, who founded Very Good & Proper with design director André Klauser in 2009 (both of them are Royal College of Art graduates). ‘There are some similarities in the design process,’ agrees Klauser. ‘Like us, the designers we work with aim for extremely high quality.’
It’s the incredible quality that really distinguishes an Isokon Plus piece from anything else on the market. ‘Our entire collection is either made from moulded plywood or solid timber. If you buy a piece of our furniture, you’ll likely have it for ever.’
Many of Isokon Plus’s designs are instantly recognisable, from the ‘Long Chair’, designed in 1936 by Marcel Breuer, to the ‘T46’ coffee table by Hein Stolle, with its distinctive, three-footed profile. And it’s not just the classics that are coveted: newer designs by Jasper Morrison and Barber Osgerby are also in high demand.
Of course, Carpenter and Klauser have their own favourites. ‘The ‘Isokon Stool’ is an incredible example of what moulded plywood can achieve,’ says Klauser. ‘And I love Jasper Morrison’s “Iso-Lounge” chair. Jasper was the reason I first came to London – working with him again on this project was very special. It’s a pretty nice chair, too!’
For Carpenter, it’s ‘a tough choice – but I think it has to be the “Isokon Dining Table” by Marcel Breuer. I love the lightness and simplicity of it and it shows off exactly what our workshop can do.’
The pair plan to keep improving on their already winning formula by reissuing and reinterpreting key pieces from the archive. Recently, they rereleased Marcel Breuer’s nesting tables with Margaret Howell, alongside an exhibition celebrating the brand’s history.
They’re not just looking back, though. ‘We have some exciting collaborations in the pipeline,’ teases Klauser. ‘But you’ll have to wait to find out!’ All design aficionados should watch this space. isokonplus.com
