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It was an unexpected and unanticipated start for longtime buddies Willard Ford (son of Harrison) and John Brady when they set out to create an international agency for design. During a vacation in Thailand, and as they walked the country’s streets and roads, the cities and towns began to inspire great minds to think alike as they came across beautiful designs from local artisans and furniture makers. The duo set out to be the independent representatives for, not only their Taiwanese vendors, but for other international designers around the world and in the U.S. In 2006 the partnership of FORDBRADY was born.
FC Showroom
As they set up base in the historical Kim Sing Theater in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, a prime location in this emerging design community which Ford had already bought and lived prior to the start up of the company, they not only developed a company but also a brand. Having no background in the industry is was apparent that they had a natural and skillful eye in hand selecting stylish and functional pieces for their collections. Never professing to be an all-around and exclusively eco-friendly design gallery their choices still remained ecologically responsible. Many items of the collection (which includes both furniture and artwork) feature eco-friendly materials from around the world, which includes recycled, reclaimed, rapidly renewable products ranging from metals to woods, which all create exotic and cross-cultural options for everyone. The collection consists of contemporary designs that are inspired by nature yet warm and creative.
Silk Work Cocoon
FORDBRADY created a company that did not exclude itself from any design field. Its association with the Kim Sing Theater Group has allowed them to offer a wide rage of services along with their amazing furniture and art collections. They have in essence become a one-stop shop for all you design needs, by offering services such as, interior design and architecture services, tile and pre-cast concrete manufacturing, custom cabinetry, construction management, and more. But in 2009, not soon after FORDBRADY was formed, Ford + Ching emerged. The departure of John Brady from the team was sudden but behind the scenes the stress of a failing economy proved to be too much and the partnership came to an end. Still longtime friends to this day, Ford and Brady can’t seem to break the bond that they had on that trip to Thailand that sparked the independent design gallery’s formation. With the subtraction of Brady and the addition of childhood friend Andrea Ching, Ford + Ching continues to hold the same standards and values as it always has. With the accumulation of Andrea’s 10 years of skill, talent, and experience in the furniture design world, the partnership has been given an advantage that it may not have had before. “ [She] brings a level of professionalism and expertise that was absent at FORDBRADY,” said Ford about his new partner, going on to say “ the addition of Andrea will surely increase the scope or work and better allow us to break new designers and new design.”
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The new partnership of Ford + Ching now operates to the trade mostly, and to the public twice a week. They are continuing to represent emerging designers who are both local and international. “It’s a highly edited selection of products, Andrea has a great eye fro more traditional stuff, and I have a somewhat demonstrated ability to find new designers” Ford says. The collection is now a result of an eclectic combination of shapes, sizes, materials, and functions that all compliment the current need for the “wow-factor” in design.
WB Desk
Ford + Ching Sustainable Lines:
Riiska Design- Andrew Riiska’s craftsmanship accentuates the detail in the reclaimed and found woods that make up his designs. His expert joinery and signature constructing methods stabilizes already formed cracks in the material while also providing a unique and one-of a kind detail to ever piece.
Freeing Eco Couture From The Seams That Bind!
Angus Hutcheson- architect turned furniture and accessory designer Angus Hutcheson is best know for the unique application of natural materials to lighting design. Inspired by whimsical feel, his most intriguing lighting line is composed of stainless steel and more impressive silkworm cocoons. The Chrysalis lighting collection emits an ethereal glow that only this material can create. Other designs use renewable and recyclable materials such as mulberry tree bark. All materials are selected with its environmental impact in consideration.
Wood Drop Black and White Primary
Skram- skram strive to minimize its impact on the environment with every piece that is produced. Only using responsibly harvested woods, low VOC stains and paints, non-toxic adhesives, water-based finishes. In 2009, the company is transitioning to a LEED contributing, formaldehyde-free, 100% pre-consumer recycled content substrate in all of its veneered products. It’s contemporary to transitional, high-style and high-quality casework and seating options are warm, functional, and impressive works of art.
Ching
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