Supreme x Kartell Trix
The original behind the Supreme x Kartell Trix is the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005) — $1500 retail vs Supreme's $1898.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
Kartell was founded in 1949 in Noviglio, Italy by chemical engineer Giulio Castelli, and holds eight pieces in MoMA's permanent collection, including the Componibili modular storage unit and Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost chair. Piero Lissoni designed the Trix in 2005 — three polyurethane foam elements connected by elastic bands that rotate and reconfigure into a pouf, lounge chair, chaise, or full-length single bed, covered in a removable polyester slipcover. The FW2020 Supreme version is a standard Trix upholstered in a red, white, and black diamond print with a co-branded Kartell/Supreme hang tag. Released November 5, 2020 at $1,898; the standard Trix retails for around $1,200 depending on upholstery.
About Kartell
Kartell is an Italian furniture manufacturer founded in 1949 by chemical engineer Giulio Castelli and architect Anna Castelli Ferrieri in Milan. The company began producing automobile accessories before expanding into homewares in 1963, becoming the first manufacturer to apply industrial plastics to furniture at scale. Headquartered in Noviglio outside Milan, Kartell has worked with Joe Colombo, Achille Castiglioni, Philippe Starck, and Ron Arad on pieces including the Componibili storage tower (1967) and the polycarbonate Louis Ghost chair (2002). Many designs are held in MoMA's permanent collection. The Castelli family still controls the company. Supreme has collaborated with Kartell on a co-branded Componibili.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $1898 |
|---|---|
| Kartell retail | $1500 |
| Hype tax | +27% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Kartell Trix just the regular Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005)?
The Supreme x Kartell Trix, released in Fall/Winter 2020, is based on the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005). Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005) is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005) than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $1898 for the Supreme x Kartell Trix; the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005) retails for $1500. That's a 27% markup — buying the original saves you $398, or 21% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005)?
You can buy the Kartell Trix Convertible Sofa (Piero Lissoni, 2005) from Hive Modern. Retail price is $1500. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
