BAMBOLE RETURNS
by Grace AhlbomWhen B&B Italia released the Le Bambole collection in 1972, it had the design world shook. It wasn’t just the youthful energy and sexy ad campaign featuring dolled up Warhol muse Donna Jordan cavorting on the curvy two-seater. There was something else about the Bambole pieces — the Bambola armchair, Bibambola two-seater, and the Bamboletto bed — that made it so desirable: its effortless construction, designed by Mario Bellini, made the Bambole appear like a playful pile of plump rectangular cushions stuffed to perfection, yet irresistibly light.
For the 50th anniversary re-release B&B Italia and Mario Bellini have put every effort in making the collection even lighter by minimizing the number of materials, and replacing its original steel frame with polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers, and recycled PET. As a result, the new edition is not only less weighty but also more environmentally friendly. Taking the iconic Bambola armchair for a ride around legendary Tompkins Square Park in New York’s East Village, it’s clear the “dolls” have lost none of their original charm.
DIRECTOR & STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
GRACE AHLBOM
CREATIVE DIRECTION
FELIX BURRICHTER AND BEN GANZ
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
ZEV MAGASIS
EDITOR
ZEV MAGASIS
PRODUCER
SARAH MARIA
TALENT
BOBBY NELSON, EFRON DANZIG, FILIPPO MARIA MAZZACCARA, TOM FLETCHER, AND NICO LOU
CASTING DIRECTOR
ARIONA BENINATO FOR CASTING COLLECTIVE
CASTING ASSISTANT
APOLLO BUAL
GROOMING
MARTA MARIOTTI
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
ELIJAH SERABALLS AND BRIAN SUBER
SPECIAL THANKS
SAM LANE
WHITNEY MALLETT
AND THE TEAMS AT B&B ITALIA