We're very excited these days about the launch of our latest, exclusive collection: a series of colorful, boldly graphic pillows by Zurich-based atelier Ikou Tschüss.

Pieces from Ikou Tschüss's

The brand is known for high quality, handmade knitwear and crotchet foulards, and its happy, finely woven pieces are as distinct as its name (Ikou translates to “Let's go!” in Japanese, while tschüss means “Goodbye!” in German). The partners behind the label, Guya Marini and Carmen D'Apollonio, first met 20 years ago during a "wild disco night," and quickly became friends, and, ultimately, creative partners. Both women are second generation Italians who grew up in Zurich. Prior to launching Ikou Tschüss, D’Apollonio worked as an assistant for Urs Fischer in New York for several years while Marini studied in Munich and worked as a stylist in Paris. Their multicultural backgrounds and experiences are well reflected in their work: In search of various cultural traditions of handcrafts, and the finest materials for their textile designs, the pair are building an international network of independent artisans, women‘s cooperatives, and socially and environmentally fair producers.

What makes Ikou Tschüss's designs so enchanting to us is the remarkable freedom and jauntiness in their color, material, and pattern combinations. Describing their approach, they told us, “Sometimes [the design may] start with a picture we like from an exhibition we just saw, or a phrase on a little piece of paper we [come across], or a [doodle made during] a boring, complicated conversation with the bank accountant. We don‘t really have a plan, we just start doing and then we see where it takes us . . . We never stick to the same colors, and we do what we like without thinking about seasons or trends!”

The brand's future plans include a collection of pillows with one of our favorite lifestyle brands, CristaSeya, and pop-up shops in New York City, Paris, and Los Angeles, “so we have even more excuses to travel and see our friends.”

We can't wait to see those and anything else the duo has up their sleeves!

*Photography by John Patrick Walder