As this latest holiday weekend draws to a close and we come nigh upon NeoCon ’09, how fitting that we should begin our preview coverage of the principal design fair in the U.S. with a quintessential success story. From the humble origins of Valencia, Spain (historically known as the birthplace of the delicacy Paella), designer Andreu Martí, has parlayed his smallish endeavor into a U.S. design nexus.

Smile Chair. Manufactured by Andrew World.

The founder of Andreu World has “always aimed high, but it would have been difficult for him to imagine half a century ago that his small factory would reach such heights. Specifically, as high as the tenth floor of the Merchandise Mart Plaza” (Interiors From Spain). The reference is to Andreu World’s current headquarters, from which–alongside such industry giants as Vitra, Steelcase, Haworth, Herman Miller, and B&B Italia–Martí and Co. show the world their wares.

Smile Chair. Manufactured by Andreu World.

Smile Chair. Manufactured by Andreu World.

Zarina Chair. Designed by William Sawaya for Andreu World.

The company is an emissary of sorts for a Spanish aesthetic: recent years have featured work by some of Spain’s most reknowed talent, including Lievore, Altherr, & Molina; Jamie Bouzaglo (see La Diva chair), and the iconic Javier Mariscal. With collaborations from the likes of Mariscal. et. al, it’s no wonder that Andreu World has made serious headway in the U.S.A. Headquartered in Chicago for five years running, the manufacturer has completed projects as diverse as the Bronx Criminal Court Complex, the Myth restaurant in San Francisco, the Finnegan Henderson law firm in DC, and the Hyatt hotel in Chicago. Speaking of Chicago, the city–and the forthcoming fair–seems to have a rare affection for Andreu World. Not only is the company now a Merchandise Mart mainstay, they’re also a central figure in a featured NeoCon exhibit: for “FashioNext at Neo Con,” the manufacturer joins forces with Brentano “in a collaborative exhibit demonstrating how the creative worlds of fabric, furniture, and fashion can come together.” During the fair, the winning piece will be displayed alongside Andreu World’s furniture, then it’s off to the Chic Chicago Exhibition at the Chicago History Museum before becoming a permanent part of the Museum’s reknowned costume collection.

But these aren’t the only signs of Andreu World you’ll see at NeoCon ’09. The manufacturer will show featured lines including L, A, and M’s Smile, Radical, and Lineal Confort designs; Estudio Andreu’s Valeria Chairs; William Sawaya’s Zarina Collection, and Javier Mariscal’s Wok Chair. Join us for our live, on-site, and unrelenting coverage of designs by Andreu World and hundreds of other manufacturers during Neo Con ’09, June 15-17.