Forging Ahead
Andy Morter, Hubbardton Forge’s design developer, installs the brand’s Snaps design, which can be configured in various ways.
Hubbardton Forge
“When I first started at Hubbardton Forge 13 years ago, I didn’t have a job title,” says Andy Morter. “I was given a long leash to explore and tinker with materials and LEDs, which were changing the lighting landscape at the time.” Fast-forward to present day, and Morter, now design developer under the direction of VP of Design David Kitts, continues to experiment and take creative liberties, resulting in provocative creations like the Snaps collection, shown here and launching early this year.
The system’s leather straps, connecting LED modules that sit within alabaster discs, are fully customizable, giving interior designers the freedom to play with the configuration and positioning to create unique and bold installations. The fluid design is not necessarily inspired by a place or thing or era, but rather by the raw materials at hand. “It’s about the exploration of parts and pieces and bringing these materials and new technologies together,” says Morter.
The Vermont company’s goal is to build upon its storied foundation for everything created, from the newest leather Snaps collection to its iconic metal offerings. What began as a forgery 50 years ago has evolved into so much more, but staying ahead while remaining true to their roots is a formula they have mastered thus far.