Now You See it, Now You Don't

By Kate Novack

Catwalk producer Alexandre de Betak has been dubbed the Fellini of fashion shows for his runway pyrotechnics. The Manhattan-based Frenchman once created an interactive catwalk for Donna Karan (sensors in the runway activated the show's sound track), and he sent trapeze artists floating through the air during a man-made snowstorm for Victoria's Secret.

Now Betak is venturing into the world of furniture design with the debut of his first collection, on view at the Milan furniture fair from April 14 to May 8. "It was a quite natural continuation of what I do," says Betak, who has no plans to give up his work for the runway. Named for its construction in highly polished, heavy Lucite, Clear de Betak consists of a bookcase ($7,800) and a bench covered in supple black leather ($6,000). Both pieces demonstrate the same mischievous quality as Betak's notorious runway creations. A trichromatic lighting system makes it possible to change the color of each unit with the turn of a knob. And best of all, says Betak, "when the bookcase is full, you don't see the shelves anymore, and it seems like the books are floating."

For now, the collection is available only through the Domeau & Peres showroom outside Paris. But look for the line to grow. "There are many other types of material I'd like to work with," says Betak. "Light will always be very important--but in a playful manner."