PROMOTION: RKF
a touch of luxury As a global leader in the field of luxury fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF is known for pushing the boundaries of design and function. We find out about the company’s latest work
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he year to date has seen RKF Luxury Linen – whose innovations include the ultra lightweight DreamSoft fabric – reach new heights in terms of its achievements, awards and innovations. In June 2017, RKF’s new eco-friendly trenchcoatstyle bathrobe received three fashion accolades at the 10th International Design Awards in Los Angeles – bringing the total number of awards the spa robe received to seven worldwide.
An industry first RKF’s pioneering founder Riadh Bouaziz, along with his creative director Christophe Dijoux, set out on a mission to disrupt the market for spa robes, and their awardwinning trenchcoat design – with its slim lines, flattering silhouette and attention to detail – seems to have exceeded their goals. “We’re the first company anywhere to elevate the spa robe in this way,” says Bouaziz. “Traditionally these garments have always been oversized, unflattering and awkward to wear. 74 spabusiness.com issue 3 2017
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RKF founder Riadh Bouaziz (right) with his creative director Christophe Dijoux (left) in Los Angeles
Our lightweight robe would not look out of place on someone walking down the high street
A’Design Award in Italy in April 2016, followed by the Special Jury Prize at the ESPA Innovation Awards in Belgium in May 2016. To follow was the Prix Spécial du Jury, Trophées Tech’n S.P.A.S in France (November 2016), and finally the Silver European Product Design Award, received from European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium in March of this year.
A day of wellness “But today’s spa and hospitality guests really don’t want to feel this way any more. They want to feel comfortable and look fashionable wherever they are in the facility. “Our lightweight robe would not look out of place on someone walking down the high street,” he continues. “In fact, when we were in LA to receive our awards we filmed our models wearing the trenchcoat on the famous Rodeo Drive in Hollywood. “It’s possible to wear this robe anywhere – so spa guests can feel comfortable walking through the lobby, having dinner in the restaurant, and walking in the gardens too.” As well as the recent awards in LA, the robe also received the Golden
The company’s time in Los Angeles was especially busy, as it coincided with this year’s Global Wellness Day in June, with Bouaziz having just been appointed France ambassador for GWD on a three-year tenure. “I’ve been very involved with Global Wellness Day since it began, so it’s a great honour for me to serve this initiative and help to grow it in the future,” says Bouaziz. “This year we had 10 French cities take part, and RKF was instrumental in organising many wellness-related events, both in our home city of Belfort, as well as in key locations in Paris like the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées.” Bouaziz says there was huge enthusiasm in France for the event this year, and RKF’s video showing the highlights received almost 100,000 views on Facebook. This year, Global Wellness Day was celebrated in 100 countries and more than 4,000 locations, and Bouaziz’s aim as one of