THE rich are different. The receptionist at Dublin's Clarence Hotel was apologetic. To a caller on the phone she explained, in slightly embarrassed tones, that they wanted the bread sliced "for medical reasons".
Meanwhile, in the fifth-floor penthouse, all was beige and crystal. Ella Fitzgerald sang Ain't Misbehavin' as fashion designer John Rocha posed for photographers against a porthole window, wine glass in his hand.
A selection from Waterford Crystal's newest collection rested on a glittering black baby grand piano. On the back of a beige couch, which rested on a beige carpet under a beige ceiling, lay a lone copy of the Socialist Worker its rude crimson title clashing with sense and sensibility.
We were there for the launch of a new crystal range from Waterford, designed by John Rocha, and know as John Rocha at Waterford Crystal.
Beautiful leaden stuff, with a minimalist style, it is intended for use as much as admiration. The targeted market is under-40-year-olds with pine floors. A wine glass sells at about £25, compared to the traditional £32.
It has taken two years to bring the product to yesterday's climax. It will be on sale exclusively at Brown Thomas, in Grafton Street, for a month before going nationwide. The UK launch will be in September, and it will be brought to the US market next year.
Mr John Foley, marketing manager with Waterford Crystal, said they had decided to develop the product following research which showed a gap in the market among the "young Irishry".
They decided to approach a fashion designer as they were believed to be more in tune with the tastes of the moment.
John Rocha was "absolutely thrilled" to be asked to design the range. Apart from it being a Waterford product - "Like Guinness, Waterford is Ireland" - he said it was good to work with something which had a life of 10 to 20 years, compared to the average six months for fashion.
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