Iconic Brazilian Store Opens a New Flagship in Houston, Brings Plenty of Celebrity Fans

What: ETEL Houston Grand Opening

Where: The Shops at Arrive (formerly West Ave)

PC Moment: Examples of the iconic Brazilian furniture in the ETEL repertoire wowed the 100 insiders who made the cut to attend the opening of the preeminent handcrafted furniture maker’s United States flagship. The jewel box gallery houses a curated selection from the ETEL Design Collection including exclusive re-editions by famed Brazilian architects Oscar Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi,and the same furnishings that have captivated celebs including Kris Jenner and Lenny Kravitz and are in use in the showrooms of Donna Karen and Calvin Klein.

Angelica Nechar and Caroline Tonisi, natives of Brazil, are responsible for bringing the line to Houston. ETEL has only two other flagships in the world, in São Paulo and in Milan. They were joined in hosting the evening by ETEL founding family members Lissa Carmona, ETEL CEO, and Camilla Carmona, ETEL commercial director.

In a nod to the firm’s South American origins, bossa nova musical stylings were performed by Brazilian duo Gabriel Santiago and Cassio Duarte. Likewise, Churrasco’s Catering contributed Brazilian fare including  coxinhas, spinach and artichoke empanaditas, Manchego crostinis, crab and shrimp campechana and churrasco canapes.

PC Seen: Gustavo Nechar, Dan Simpson, Mauro Tozzi, Consul General of Brazil Jose Borges dos Santos Jr. and Danielle Marquardt Bayer, Matheus Nechar, Rosa and Fernando Frimm, Lisa Holthouse, Rosangela Capobiaco, Tatiana Green, Dancie and Jim Ware, and David Genova.