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
RKF founder Riadh Bouaziz (right) with his creative director Christophe Dijoux (left) in Los Angeles
The 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 trenchcoat-style 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 award-winning 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.
“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 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 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 four new French ambassadors and key supporters is to greatly expand the number of French cities taking part next year.
“It may just be one day, but it provides a powerful focus on wellbeing, and how important that is in all our lives,” says Bouaziz. “People today are way too stressed. They must learn to slow down, think about how they live their lives, and learn to relax!”
Ambitious digital strategy However, given the schedule for RKF in the coming year, it’s difficult to see how Bouaziz and his team will themselves have time to relax.
This September will see the launch of a whole new digital marketing and media strategy, aimed at giving a 360-degree view of RKF’s creative work, both at its headquarters and its many offices around the world.
Its new showrooms will open at its HQ in Belfort, Eastern France, in October, offering another way for clients to see the work of RKF up close.
The end of 2017 will see the launch of a new company website, complete with a multi-media blog – the first blog in the company’s history – that will offer a fascinating window into the world of RKF and its partners, complete with interviews and behind-the-scenes vlogs.
Catwalk debut Early in 2018, RKF will also make its debut at Paris Fashion Week, where it will present a show with at least 30 models wearing bespoke RKF robe designs.
“We have something really special in store for this show and it will wow viewers. It’s a first for a company in our industry to put on such an event,” says Bouaziz. “We’re changing the boundaries and perception of spa fashion and linens every single day.”
Meanwhile, the company’s list of prestigious spa and resort clients continues to grow, each being served with a complete bespoke linens package in line with their brand.
Recently completed RKF projects include the Palazzo Versace Dubai, the Four Seasons Hotels in Kuwait and London, the One & Only Nyungwe House in Rwanda, the Six Senses Spa in Ibiza and the Hotel de Crillon – a prestigious French Palace hotel that has just opened after extensive renovations, and includes suites designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
Next year will also see RKF dip its toes into the B2C market for the very first time.
Bright future For those who have ever met the effervescent Bouaziz, it’s impossible not to be touched by his infectious enthusiasm.
“I absolutely love what I do, working in wellness and creating high-quality products that touch the lives of so many people. I wake up with a smile on my face everyday, and I like to see the people around me looking happy too,” he enthuses. “My philosophy is think positive, do positive, feel positive.”
It’s certainly a philosophy that has enabled RKF Luxury Linen to scale the heights of the luxury spa and hospitality market, and judging by its achievements and future plans, there is so much more to come.
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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
RKF founder Riadh Bouaziz (right) with his creative director Christophe Dijoux (left) in Los Angeles
The 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 trenchcoat-style 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 award-winning 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.
“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 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 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 four new French ambassadors and key supporters is to greatly expand the number of French cities taking part next year.
“It may just be one day, but it provides a powerful focus on wellbeing, and how important that is in all our lives,” says Bouaziz. “People today are way too stressed. They must learn to slow down, think about how they live their lives, and learn to relax!”
Ambitious digital strategy However, given the schedule for RKF in the coming year, it’s difficult to see how Bouaziz and his team will themselves have time to relax.
This September will see the launch of a whole new digital marketing and media strategy, aimed at giving a 360-degree view of RKF’s creative work, both at its headquarters and its many offices around the world.
Its new showrooms will open at its HQ in Belfort, Eastern France, in October, offering another way for clients to see the work of RKF up close.
The end of 2017 will see the launch of a new company website, complete with a multi-media blog – the first blog in the company’s history – that will offer a fascinating window into the world of RKF and its partners, complete with interviews and behind-the-scenes vlogs.
Catwalk debut Early in 2018, RKF will also make its debut at Paris Fashion Week, where it will present a show with at least 30 models wearing bespoke RKF robe designs.
“We have something really special in store for this show and it will wow viewers. It’s a first for a company in our industry to put on such an event,” says Bouaziz. “We’re changing the boundaries and perception of spa fashion and linens every single day.”
Meanwhile, the company’s list of prestigious spa and resort clients continues to grow, each being served with a complete bespoke linens package in line with their brand.
Recently completed RKF projects include the Palazzo Versace Dubai, the Four Seasons Hotels in Kuwait and London, the One & Only Nyungwe House in Rwanda, the Six Senses Spa in Ibiza and the Hotel de Crillon – a prestigious French Palace hotel that has just opened after extensive renovations, and includes suites designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
Next year will also see RKF dip its toes into the B2C market for the very first time.
Bright future For those who have ever met the effervescent Bouaziz, it’s impossible not to be touched by his infectious enthusiasm.
“I absolutely love what I do, working in wellness and creating high-quality products that touch the lives of so many people. I wake up with a smile on my face everyday, and I like to see the people around me looking happy too,” he enthuses. “My philosophy is think positive, do positive, feel positive.”
It’s certainly a philosophy that has enabled RKF Luxury Linen to scale the heights of the luxury spa and hospitality market, and judging by its achievements and future plans, there is so much more to come.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: 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
TLee Spas and Wellness has revealed the design concept for a high-tech spa with body
mapping scanners to improve public health, for AI company Midjourney.
Ameyalli, the 78-acre wellbeing resort and residential community in Midway in Utah, US, has
broken ground on phase two of the hot spring development – the Ameyalli Resort and Spa –
which is due to open in 2028.
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Trybe Trybe was founded back in 2020, and the past five years has seen Trybe become the fastest growing al [more...]
