- By
- Johanna Silver
Photography by Chiara Quadri for LaDoubleJ.com.
JJ MARTIN'S WUNDERWALL
Acclaimed journalist, vintage fashion aficionado, and LaDoubleJ founder JJ Martin has added a new, physical dimension to her opulent enterprise. This weekend, she debuted her showroom Wunderwall along a secluded canal in Milan. The rotating exhibit was designed by architect Luca Cipelletti and currently features painted vases by Liselotte Watkins and vintage jewelry from the late fashion editor Anna Piaggi. Opening in tandem with Milan’s prominent furniture trade fair Salone Del Mobile, Wunderwall celebrates the many artists and æsthetics that comprise LaDoubleJ’s dynamic identity.
“These talents are all Italian-based multitaskers whose creativity has made our project grow into something much larger than just an e-commerce site,” explains Martin, who has amassed a network of creatives through the inception of her digital vintage boutique.
Watkins, whose vases are part of Wunderwall’s inaugural exhibit, is a longtime friend of Martin’s and has lent her artistic talents to the LaDoubleJ site. In her collection titled “The Collage Series Ceramics,” Watkins uses vases procured from secondhand shops as canvases for her bold and beautiful illustrations, working in three dimensions for the first time. Complementing these are vintage pieces from Piaggi’s immense collection of accessories, which can be purchased both from the exhibit and online at LaDoubleJ.com. Even the decorative prints that characterize each section of the Wunderwall are curated toward Martin’s vision, and are courtesy of Mantero Seta, who is one of Lake Como’s oldest silk manufacturers.
The showroom kicked off its opening with a party at the neighboring Atelier Biagetti, where furniture designer Alberto Biagetti creates quirky interior designs. Nodding to the Salone Del Mobile, which continues through the end of this week, Wunderwall will also be filled with furniture from noted Italian designers and dealers. “What I love most about the Salone del Mobile is all of the off-piste showings of unexpected, creative people doing weird, interesting things together,” says Martin.
The wares of the Wunderwall will eventually rotate to welcome new creative mediums and vintage treasures. Martin’s next lineup may include anything from furniture to up-and-coming fashion designers. Overall, it is an exciting new extension for LaDoubleJ fans who want to experience their commodities in person. “Ever since we launched, people kept asking, ‘Can we come see the archive? Where can we buy?’ I was like, ‘You can buy online!’” says Martin. “They didn’t fully appreciate that, and I understand that now, as vintage is really something to be pet in person.”
Read more about LaDoubleJ in our feature from our Spring 2015 issue here. Wunderwall is now open in Piazza Arcole 4, Milan, through Sunday and thereafter by appointment only through laservice@ladoublej.com.
- By
- Johanna Silver
Photography by Chiara Quadri for LaDoubleJ.com.
