Interior designers, architects, editors and industry leaders gathered at the AF|NY showroom yesterday evening for the New York launch of Kartell by Laufen, where they met with company executives and learned about the new and innovative materials behind the products.

The collection, designed by husband and wife duo Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, is the first collaboration for both Kartell and Laufen, and according to Laufen US Managing Director Javier Korneluk, it was a match made in heaven.

"The common denominator was the designer Roberto Palomba, who has designed products for both Kartell and Laufen, and he brought us together," said Korneluk. "It's a great marriage. Kartell has gotten into bathroom which they wanted to do, and for us it brings color to our designs, rather than just our typical white ceramic."

Kartell, a furniture company, and Laufen, a bath company, each wanted to get involved in the other's discipline, so the partnership came naturally, as did housing it in the AF|NY showroom.

Karin Kohlberg, Claire Godden, Javier Korneluk and Bennett Friedman

"I think the new collection is very special because it is somewhat familiar but it has aspects to it that make it fresher and cleaner," said Bennett Friedman, Principal and Design Director of AF|NY. "It's clean, it's flat, it's square and it's very fresh."

Two years in the making, the collection features an all new material—Saphirkeramik—a high-tech ceramic which is twice as strong, thinner and more ecological and cost effective than ceramic.

“So you’ve got Kartell, you’ve got Laufen, and you’ve got a revolution in ceramic,” said Korneluk of the collection.

Ladislav Dvorak, Javier Korneluk, Russell Barnes and Ilker Hussein

Attendees at the party were able to tour the vignettes featuring the new product and have their questions answered by Laufen executives including Korneluk, Russell Barnes, Ilker Hussein and Ladislav Dvorak, who all flew in from Switzerland for the occasion.

The collection combines furniture, bath products and accessories including chairs, shelving, lighting, back-lit mirrors, sinks, faucets and more. Kartell and Laufen plan to continue the partnership and roll out additional products in the future.