Fagnidi Line of Couture Furnishings with African Roots Makes High Point Debut

Furniture World Magazine

The Fagnidi “African Couture Collection” is being shown this week at the International Home Furnishings Market at one of High Point’s newest venues, The Suites at Market Square (Booth #1-467) located at 305 West High Street.  In addition to the “Alpha Chair”, the collection showcases other African inspired pieces designed by Fagnidi including the “Grobri” and “Guissa” tables, hewn from rich exotic mahogany and walnut woods fused with glass, etched with African-esque motifs. Fagnidi’s collection includes exquisite hand-crafted leather furnishings called “LAGOH”, which is translated from the little-known Bete language (Ivory Coast) as “Love of the Divine”.  This series melds “form with function” in sculpting Buffalo Hides to create beautifully tanned and polished cognac-colored chairs, tables, lamps, wine racks, baskets and desk accessories that are “foldable”.  The centerpiece of this line is the “Deccan” chair, which is designed with a matching stool. The collection’s designer, Alain (aka Allen) Fagnidi describes his approach by noting, “I strive to bring together the traditions of my West African Culture with the universal need for comfort and desire for luxury.  At the core of all of my work are the essential values of well-being: tolerance, sharing, joy and faith or as we say in my native language, “LAGOH”.   The display at the High Point Show this year represents the official launch of the Fagnidi brand in the United States and signals the availability of this fashionable and highly desirable line of furniture and accessories in the United States.  The line was first shown in Canada in 2005 where the “Deccan” (leather chair) was awarded Second-Prize in the Montreal International Interior Design Show (SIDIM) for Excellence in Design.  Fagnidi Designs have also been showcased at Montreal’s Home & Trends Show and have been featured in publications such as La Voix du Village (October 2005), Maison D’aujoourd’hui (Autumn 2005 and Spring 2006 and Ego Magazine (Spring 2006).   The Fagnidi Collection is represented in the United States by Ms. Paris Brown, a New York-based Interior Designer, who has played a prominent role in selecting pieces and staging the showcase this year in High Point.