new york sunshine receives THE DESIGN PRIZE 2021 ‘distribution’ for SUN DYED IN TEXAS

NEW YORK SUNSHINE AWARDED THE DESIGN PRIZE 2021 GOLDEN MADONNINA

john margaritis, founder of new york sunshine and winner of THE DESIGN PRIZE 2021 in the category of ‘distribution’, received the golden madonnina trophy in new york. sunshine was awarded THE DESIGN PRIZE for ‘SUN DYED IN TEXAS’, a project created with US apparel company dickies and installed on a private ground in marfa’s desert landscape. the project, which was built in june and taken down in september 2021, featured a house-shaped sculptural piece and a billboard that read ‘just another day in paradise’. both were covered in dickies blue twill fabric, whose appearance was gradually altered due to the sun and weather conditions. the fabric will be upcycled into a new york sunshine and dickies clothing collaboration that will launch this year, while the wood will be reused for the pop-up stores to support the collaboration.

designboom met with new york sunshine to deliver the award in an intimate ceremony with members of his studio, friends and family. in the video above, john margaritis receives THE DESIGN PRIZE 2021 golden madonnina, and talks about the ‘SUN DYED IN TEXAS’ installation and clothing collaboration with dickies, his hands-on approach and plans for the future.

image © designboom

all SUN DYED IN TEXAS images courtesy of new york sunshine and dickies

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN MARGARITIS

‘my dad is a cabinet maker and I grew up working in a cabinet shop, starting from ground level, sweeping sawdust and all the bullshit that I hated doing. but now, when I get in a creative rut, I’ll go back and start sweeping sawdust,’ john margaritis says while discussing his hands-on approach. ‘it helps me clear my mind. the hands-on approach comes from working with my dad and him always talking to me about the importance of working with your hands. he really instilled that in me, which I enjoy now because not much stuff is really made here or not that many people know how to make stuff. so, knowing that almost anything I can think of, between me, him and the guys in the shop, we can make it physical, is exciting.’

based in southampton, new york sunshine creates works that balance between art, design and fashion. for the project with dickies, margaritis visited the company’s archive factory in texas and was inspired by the worn out, vintage clothing found in ranches and farmhouses. ‘I knew that I wanted to try not to waste anything, and I wanted to really play with how the sun and elements affect fabric,’ margaritis explains. ‘that’s when I decided we were going to  build the stick frame house in the desert, leave it up for 4-5 months and just let the weather beat it up, fade it.’ all the fabric from the house is currently at the dickies factory getting sewn into a clothing collection that will be out later this year. meanwhile, most of the wood from the house is being used for pop-up stores that will be supporting the collection, while the rest is going into new york sunshine’s new studio, which is currently under construction. watch our interview in full in the video above.

family, friends and team members gathered for THE DESIGN PRIZE ceremony | image © designboom

john margaritis with his dad and the golden madonnina | image © designboom

‘SUN DYED IN TEXAS’

‘just another day in paradise’ billboard

the fabric-clad house at nighttime

image © designboom

the golden madonnina in new york | image © designboom

THE DESIGN PRIZE is an annual award program that celebrates excellence on a global scale. initiated in 2017 and curated by designboom, with patronage by the city of milan, THE DESIGN PRIZE recognizes both the extraordinary achievements and little sparks of beauty and delight that have emerged over the past 12 months.