A Journey in Hook Design

Hooks are easily overlooked. Too small to be a main design feature of a space, often tucked discreetly out of the way, they also perform a function that is easy to take for granted. But look around you, and it can be surprising just how universal and versatile hooks are. In bathrooms, cloakrooms, changing rooms, in bars and restaurants, on public transport and in cinemas, hooks are found in all sorts of settings, quietly doing their job. The way we look at things at Sugatsune, hooks are one of those things that you might only really appreciate if they suddenly weren’t there any more. Having that option to hang up a wet coat on a train or at a bar might seem a small thing, but it matters when we have that option. We pride ourselves on taking the small things seriously. In our way of thinking, because hooks provide a valuable function, they deserve to be taken as seriously as any other component used to put together an interior or industrial space. Yet all too often, design is an afterthought when it comes to hooks. There just isn’t the same choice available on the market that there is with, say, handles and knobs. When it comes to hooks, interior designers are too often forced to make do. We never want our clients to feel they have to make those sorts of compromises. With that in mind, we have been on a journey with our approach to hooks that has seen us not only greatly expand our range over the years, but also really hone in on first class design principles which ensure our hooks play their part contributing to the overall look and feel of any space. The result is that we boast one of the biggest ranges of hooks for domestic and commercial interiors available. We approach the development of all of our hooks in the same way: Choosing the right materials to suit every possible application. Applying our world class precision engineering expertise to manufacture products which are supremely reliable and resilient. Topping it all off with an unwavering commitment to aesthetic refinement to ensure every last hook fits beautifully with your overall design. To give some examples - one of our specialisms is manufacturing components from stainless steel, and we have used this expertise in contrasting ways to develop hooks for very different purposes. On the one hand, our ultra-premium Zwei L design range includes bathroom and washroom hooks made from stainless steel and then polished using artisanal techniques borrowed from the jewelry trade to achieve exquisite quality finishes. On the other, we have produced heavy duty utility hooks using top quality corrosion-resistant 316 stainless steel which are durable and strong enough to be deployed in the toughest outdoor industrial and marine environments. With our PXB range of hooks, we take the balance of form and function a step further, choosing materials for their aesthetic effects as much as for their durability and how well they suit different environments. These products represent our broadest range of hook styles and are designed with the explicit intention of complementing interiors. For example, the Aged Screw series within the PXB range uses generous amounts of brass to create a rustic, rugged effect - ideal for designs inspired by an old-time country aesthetic. The Wood and Leather Chic series, meanwhile, makes use of those materials in stylishly rounded, knob-like pegs intended to fit with classy, mature, luxuriously comfortable interiors. Coloured rubber, meanwhile, features in both our Rubber Ranger and Nordic Rubber series, designed for children’s play spaces or bedrooms and brightly lit, colourful contemporary spaces respectively. The list goes on. But one of the key points about the PXB range is that, alongside hooks, each series also features complementary handles, bars, pulls and more to create a complete, seamless design for any room. Finally, as with most types of components we manufacture, Sugatsune’s journey in hook design has led us to some interesting new places by innovating with the type of functionality you can add to hooks. This has included adding our patented soft close damper technology to recessed and counter hooks. Recessed hooks are a neat, safety-conscious solution which provides the option of a hook without having it protruding out all the time. Commonly found on train, plane and cinema seats as well as in toilet and changing cubicles, recessed hooks use a spring mechanism to close when there is nothing loaded on them. The inclusion of a soft close damper makes sure this happens in a smooth, controlled manner. It is a similar story with undermounted counter hooks, which sit on the underside of tables, bars or counters. Fitted with our patented soft close damper, the hooks can be pulled out to provide the ideal place to hang designer handbags and so on - keeping them off the floor and securely out of reach. When not required, the hooks smoothly tuck away, avoiding any risk of legs being scratched against them. If you would like to learn more about any of the products mentioned in this newsletter, please give our friendly customer services team a call on 01189 272 955.

For more information on A Journey in Hook Design talk to Sugatsune UK