“Rockstar” industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue has reached for the stars in his collection inspired by the popular movie franchise Star Wars. In 2012, Disney announced a deal to acquire Lucas film. Disney , holding the rights to the series approached Mr. Cobonpue to design a collection inspired by the movies.
But according to him, Disney told him to interpret the world of Star Wars through a Filipino designer’s lens. This made Cobonpue comfortable and somehow made the ball rolling.
The partnership is extraordinary because the movie franchise and Mr. Cobonpue’s name are mentioned at the same time in a co-branding deal. Cobonpue has access to Disney as the company became open to the Filipino industrial-designer. This means that Cobonopue will have access to use Disney characters for further collaboration. And yes, that includes Marvel. So it’s going to be exciting for all Marvel and Cobonpoue fans.
While the collection is inspired by Star Wars, it took a concerted effort on Cobonpue’s part not to take it literally. “There’s a point when you become too literal. It then becomes cheesy, and kind of corny. Maybe I’m glad that I’m not a geek who follows Star Wars religiously. I look at it the same way everybody does. We love it, we understand it. That will be my basis for my Star Wars design.
A highlight of the collection is the Vader chair: a black cocoon in the shape of Darth Vader’s helmet, with a canopy and a small swiveling desk. It’s perfect for plotting schemes in your office, and sitting on it, when one’s face is enveloped in shadows by the woven canopy, might give the owner the same fearsome aura as Darth Vader. The chair’s partner appropriately is the Sidious chair, named after Emperor Palpatine’s Sith alias and Darth Vader’s master. The armchair’s back points up, taking the shape of the peak in the Emperor’s hood.
Two chairs in black and white are called the Imperial Ings, taking flight from the TIE fighters of the Imperial fleet. Other pieces include a lamp made of several jedi wielding lightsabers, as well as a rocking stool inspired by Hans Solo’s sidekick Chewbacca. Prices of these pieces ranges from P 68,000.00 – P 213,000.00
With additional reports: Business World, Joseph Garcia
Image source:
- https://www.manilatimes.net/kenneth-cobonpue-collaborates-with-star-wars/452102/
- https://sg.news.yahoo.com/feel-force-kenneth-cobonpue-launches-050053576.html
- https://www.realliving.com.ph/lifestyle/star-wars-kenneth-cobonpue-collection-a00272-20181011
- https://geekspin.co/star-wars-furniture/
