SO/ VIENNA AND VIENNESE FASHION DESIGNER ARTHUR ARBESSER PRESENT NEW HOTEL FASHION COLLECTION
Clear-cut lines, striking patterns and a rebellious colour scheme reflect the design of the hotel on Vienna’s Donaukanal
The SO/ brand, with its playful but also deliberately rebellious twist on luxury hospitality, presents itself as a vibrant complement to the global hospitality scene. This is why the signature elements of this brand include avant-garde design, fashionable staff uniforms, playful entertainment, the “Just Say SO” service as well as stylish parties, inviting guests to “feel the pulse” and immerse in the vivacity and vibe of the local scene.
This ambition – transposed in a unique way – is also echoed by the new uniform collection designed by Arthur Arbesser: Reserved classic colours such as grey, white and black plus plain stripes and checks meet colourful motifs thereby exuding all the contradictions that are the hallmark of SO/ Vienna design. From the receptionists to the service staff, housekeepers to the mixologists, everyone will be adorned in this captivating fashion collection, which exudes an avant-garde spirit and audacious sophistication and was instilled with life by the finest fabrics and sartorial skills. It comes across as playful mitigating that usual sternness of luxury hotels, conveying the vibrant and pulsating energy which SO/ is renowned for.
How hotel uniforms make a fashion statement
The works of architect Jean Nouvel and artist Pipilotti Rist, who were mainly responsible for the design of the SO/ Vienna, served Arthur Arbesser as an inspiration. The signature designs of these two masterminds feature in various elements of the collection – ranging from graphical grids and strict lines to playful colours and daring contrasts that allude to Vienna’s Art Nouveau history. The all-over prints of the bartender uniforms and receptionists’ shirts, for example, make reference to Pipilotti Rists’ ceiling artworks. Arbesser also inferred some colour combinations from these such as pink/orange/powder pink or the intense blue for the men’s agent uniforms. The structured facade of the hotel is in turn also echoed by the grey-black patchwork skirts worn by reception staff.
What distinguishes the design of hotel uniforms from high-fashion designs? “The amount of time and my sources of inspiration. For the SO/ Vienna designs I really had the time to immerse myself into the hotel and the brand core of SO/. I woke up in these one-of-a-kind rooms, enjoyed the vistas of the city under Rists’ bright blue ‘sky’ and was captured by this atmosphere. Only then did I start my work and did not stop until I had captured the spirit of the hotel and its employees,” says Arbesser.
“However, you also have to be clear about the basic idea underlying uniforms. Fashion is often short-lived and subject to trends. My uniforms should form an integral part of the hotel permanently and therefore have to be timeless to a certain degree.”
And they have to be designed to accompany their wearers through everyday work without restricting them. “It was especially important to me that the uniforms are high quality both in terms of my artistic ambition and in view of the quality and finish of fabrics. At the same time, I wanted them to have a playful, cheeky twist,” explains Arthur Arbesser, who also regularly designs costumes for theatre and ballet performances.
“When this 2-year process started we were already certain that we had found the perfect creative partner in Arthur Arbesser. He combines the two personalities of our hotels in his designs like no other designer: clear-cut, no-frills, bold and playful, a rebellious attitude that escapes the ordinary. The result entirely reflects this and we are delighted to welcome our guests with our new fashion statement from now on,” says Christian Klaus, General Manager of SO/ Vienna.
About the designer Arthur Arbesser
Since its establishment the SO/ Hotels & Resorts brand has cooperated with international designers ranging from Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Lacroix to Viktor&Rolf. For its first hotel in Austria SO/ has enlisted a designer who not only reflects the attitude to life of this brand and this hotel but also has local roots. Born and raised in Vienna, Arbesser has been familiar with the city’s culture from an early age. Vienna with its turn-of-the-century architecture and rich cultural heritage has always been a key source of inspiration for his work. At Central Saint Martins College for Art and Design he quickly developed his personal aesthetic signature influenced by his close contact with London’s creative art scene. After completing his studies he felt attracted to Milan where he formed an integral part of Giorgio Armani’s design team. In February 2013 Arthur Arbesser launched his women’s fashion line of the same name. In addition to his own label he also works as a creative consultant and is involved in numerous collaborations ranging from furniture to product design.
About SO/ Hotels & Resorts
SO/ Hotels & Resorts is so vivid, expressive and bursting with local energy that even the most adventurous travelers will be fascinated and entertained. A dynamic player on the global hotel scene, the SO/ brand surprises with a playful and distinctly rebellious interpretation of luxury that includes avant-garde design, a passion for fashion, trendy beats, ‘Just Say SO’ service, and buzzing destination bars and events. Originally created as an exclusive label of Sofitel, the SO/ brand has grown independently and can now be found in socially vibrant destinations such as Berlin, Mauritius, Bangkok, St. Petersburg and Singapore. SO/ hotels are places to be and to be seen, thrilling guests with fashionable and entertaining social experiences that capture the vivacity and vibe of the locale. SO/ Hotels & Resorts is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore is a jointventure with Accor, formed in 2021.
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