The Alexa Hampton by Woodard collection has been in the works behind the scenes for two years, and this market the company has been debuting the line in its new showroom in AmericasMart.
“We’ve had a very positive response from both retailers and interior designers so far,” Hampton says. “My aim with the line is to honor our DNA and grow. To not be stuck in our old ways and how to be reverential in the new millennium.”
Hampton connected with Woodard designer Jean Liu, whose family owns the business, and Hampton — who also has family in the industry — says there were sparks on the first phone call. They connected over family values and similarities and decided to work together on what would become Hampton’s first outdoor collaboration.
The resulting line consists of four unique collections that embody different design elements and styles.
The Alberti line exemplifies a strategic use of geometric play, as it has a “tree of life” chevron design on the back of the chairs and flared legs. “This one has a little bit more of a modern feel and it’s been popular with visitors this market,” Hampton says.
Lorenzo has a notable modern look compared to the other three collections, and small details make all the difference in this set as well. Instead of a straight line on the bottom of tables and chairs, there’s a small curved square that helps differentiate it and add visual interest. “We don’t just want to have the same old thing, and geometry is so important in designing furniture,” Hampton adds.
The Toro collection is shown here in an eye-catching teak and white, and Hampton says the scale of the collection was critical in her designing. “You want to have scale, but you don’t want something so big that people can’t walk around it,” she says. “Scale was a very important part of my design process, and I like to line up collections in a showroom so that they flow between bigger and smaller scale pieces.
The San Michelle collection has seven pieces in an all-weather weave as well as Greek key borders at the bottom of the weave as a skirt on seating and tables. Subtle design details also come into play in this collection, with San Michelle featuring tables with two shelves — something rarely seen outdoor but certainly inspired by indoor styling.
