Designer Life

Aviva Stanoff Design is a woman-owned, made-in-the-USA business, celebrating two decades as a brand this year. Aviva founded her design studio in 2003 in her third-floor walk-up in New York City and formalized the company as Aviva Stanoff Design in 2007. Deliberate Luxury, the brand's credo, is the confluence of Aviva's celebration of natural detail and her artisanal viewpoint, amplified by her creative spirit. Her design ancestry extends back generations of Japanese and Eastern European makers. “I celebrate that I am a child of immigrants,” says Aviva. “I try to honor these forces that helped shape me by continuing the legacy they began and by carrying on the traditions they embodied.” Aviva sees every product she designs as a canvas, including textiles, which the Brooklyn Museum of Art has tapped for their permanent Decorative Arts Collection.

Her early triumphs in her career, which was centered around the runway, include commissions from Christian Dior Couture, Givenchy Couture, and Donna Karan. She began her home décor career working as an intern at Calvin Klein Home’s headquarters while earning a Master’s in Fine Art. Her early focus on fashion earned her a mention in Vogue, and her segue to home décor garnered her a “Best Bet” nod from The New York Times in her inaugural year. The long list of companies who have shared her creations with their customers is distinguished: Bergdorf Goodman’s, Tiffany & Co, Takashimaya, ABC Carpet & Home, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, and Harrods of London, among them. Aviva has also produced bespoke collections for Nebraska Furniture Mart, FrontGate and Homegoods.

“Being a member of a tribe that includes talented women and makers from many nations puts a fire in my belly to produce a level of beauty I hope is inspiring,." she says. Though textile design is her domain, she has added fine art to her portfolio this year with the Cali Couture Collection. She also began several new collaborative relationships in 2023, one with Kravet, Inc., rediscovering antique European techniques. “Honoring the history of textiles makes my heart sing, as do expanding relationships,” Aviva says. “Connecting and community are more important than ever as I contribute to the sparkle in our industry.” Her licensing partnerships are also expanding: Kravet, Cyan Design, and Toray Textiles came into her portfolio this year; these join long-time partners Currey & Company, Global Views/Studio A, York Contract and Hospitality, and Left Bank Art.