The symbolic value of a blanket, by definition, sends a warm hug: an enveloping embrace to warm up the coldest evenings, protecting and reassuring us with its soft touch. And the impact is expanded when the weaves of the material conceal messages to discern and interpret, a figurative graphic world suggesting other deeper meanings. This is what happens in the Lucky You blanket by Lanerossi, thanks to the boundless imagination of Paola Navone and Otto Studio, to transform the textile object into a true lucky charm.
The designer, in her first collaboration with the brand owned by Marzotto Lab, gives rise to a fantastic, dreamy universe that comes alive on a surface of exceptional softness, in pure Woolmark certified virgin wool. The quality of the raw materials – from selected flocks of Merino sheep, offering excellent thermal properties and performance, and a high level of absorption of humidity – produces an ideal setting for the representation of good fortune. Paola Navone draws on a wide range of cultures, eras and traditions to formulate a “manual of good luck,” featuring amulets and talismans mixed with pop objects and symbols, all framed by saddle stitching in an intense orange color enhancing the borders.
Two big eyes, the iconic image of Otto Studio, stand out at the center of the Lucky You blanket. They gaze at the world, observing and interpreting its wonders. All around there are other references to fate: the small Japanese maneki neko cat that brings wealth to those who respond to the urging of its paw; the horseshoe, a charm with a long tradition, linked here to the nomadic spirit of the studio and the thrill of a new journey. Then comes the number 8 (which brings luck in China), appearing on a billiard ball and on a pair of thrown dice, a universal echo of good fortune and victory, all the way to four aces, the winning poker hand par excellence.
Amusing pop digressions, like a fan and a light bulb, astonish us with their magical meanings. The light bulb is intuition, a bright idea, while the fan serves to ward off evil influences and negative thoughts. The ultimate symbol of this curious gathering of objects is the soft Lanerossi skein of wool, terminating in a four-leaf clover, a message of best wishes for the new Milanese opening of the brand. Finally, on the back, the pattern suggests brushstrokes, making it possible to use the blanket on both sides.
