Description

This excellent Velasca coat stand is a lesser known design by Alessandro Mendini. What is even more unique about this particular one, is that is was produced by TRIBU design and not by Elam Uno.

Gérard Gayou was a visionary French entrepreneur who founded the design publishing house Tribu in Toulouse during the mid-1980s. His ambition was to revolutionize the French design landscape by producing avant-garde furniture that combined cutting-edge technology with innovative aesthetics.

To achieve this, Gayou leveraged the advanced manufacturing capabilities of the local aeronautics industry, enabling the creation of groundbreaking pieces like Martin Szekely’s 1986 Chaise Carbone—the first chair made entirely of carbon fiber. He also collaborated with renowned designers such as Verner Panton, Ettore Sottsass, and Pierre Paulin, as well as emerging talents like Denis Santachiara and Toshiyuki Kita, fostering a dynamic environment for design experimentation .

Today, Gérard Gayou’s pioneering work with Tribu is remembered as a bold and influential chapter in the history of French design.