by HIGH POINT – Designers Aviva Stanoff and David Santiago will host the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation induction celebration on October 15 at the Sheraton Greensboro Four Seasons during the High Point Market.
Stanoff, an artisan and multigenerational entrepreneur, founded her eponymous design studio and home décor brand with a focus on pieces that embody deliberate luxury. Santiago, an industry ambassador and founder of Casa Santi Interior Design, is an award-winning designer and gifted vocalist whose Strictly Santi brand was created to be as diverse as his repertoire of talents.
“The creative energy of Aviva and David shines brightly through their designs, their lives and their abilities to entertain,” said Karen McNeill, president of the foundation board of directors. “This dynamic duo teamed up to host our induction celebration last year, and they did such a wonderful job, we’ve asked them to serve as co-hosts again for this year’s event.”
A child of Japanese and Russian immigrants, Stanoff honors her multicultural upbringing in her work. She began her career in textile arts with an internship at Calvin Klein Home while earning her MFA.
By graduation, her designs for Calvin Klein were on store shelves and had earned her a mention in Vogue as well as commissions from Christian Dior, Givenchy Couture and Donna Karan. In 2004, she launched her own line of home accessories in Brooklyn, New York. Her textiles, which are made in the USA, are featured in luxurious hospitality properties, including Nobu, The Cosmopolitan, the Ritz Carlton and The Plaza.
Her Forest Chandelier for Currey & Company won the 2017 ARTS Award for Lighting Fixtures, and she won the 2019 Arts Award in Home Textiles. She has received numerous Textile Vendor of the Year awards from ABC Carpet & Home, and her work is featured in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Decorative Arts. She has been known to pop up everywhere from the United Nations to corporate and trade events, as well as in her son’s classrooms. She prioritizes philanthropy and community service as an integral part of her identity as a “Sparkletunity Ambassador.”
Santiago, who established Casa Santi in 2011, has collections with American Brass & Crystal Lighting and developed The Passport Collection for Bijou wallcoverings. His product lines cater to both the hospitality and residential markets. He continues to grow as a brand ambassador and gives back through multiple media platforms, including appearances as a guest designer on the NBC hit television series George to the Rescue and as a lifestyle correspondent for The Donna Drake Show on CBS NY. He is the artistic director for MyFace.org, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults with facial differences. Santiago also is an accomplished classical opera singer and an alumnus of Mannes College of Music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New York City Opera, among others. He serves as the development and cultural outreach officer for Teatro Grattacielo.
Santiago said, “The expressions on my face speak volumes that reveal the essence of my true feelings – and usually it’s exuberance.”
“With David and Aviva leading the festivities, the Oct. 15 induction celebration will be a delightful and inspiring evening celebrating the 2023 class of Hall of Fame inductees as they receive the industry’s most prestigious honor,” McNeill says. “The industry’s greatest networking event, the induction celebration provides an opportunity to pay tribute to all those giants who have defined the home furnishings industry and, through a special evening of fellowship, become encouraged and inspired.”
McNeill adds that the evening’s activities includes a keynote address by David Pogue, an Emmy-winning CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and former New York Times columnist. In his presentation, Pogue will discuss the latest trends in technology and science and how they are reshaping our fast-changing world.
To become a foundation member, to purchase 2023 induction celebration tickets or to become a sponsor in support of an inductee, visit www.transformthefuture2023.com.
