LOEWE presented the "LOEWE Chairs" collection at the Milan Salone (officially known as the Salone del Mobile).
The Milan Salone (officially known as the Salone del Mobile) extends LOEWE's focus on craft from artisanal art to everyday objects. It is an opportunity to find new ways of expressing handiwork and human invention, nurturing them as truly progressive tools.
Chairs are the centrepiece of this year's project. Titled "LOEWE Chairs", it will run from April 18th to April 23rd in the courtyard of Palazzo Isimbardi. The hands and eyes of ingenious artisans from around the world, through their weaving and decorative techniques, reframe the everyday and humble objects, transforming them into one-of-a-kind pieces. These weaving techniques create new textures, and soft, sculptural embellishments are explored as a way to expand upon basic forms.
The project showcases a variety of knitting techniques, from core LOEWE materials like leather and raffia to more unexpected options like thermal blanket foil (a heat-insulating and heat-resistant material used in satellites). Shearling and felt are also used to cover parts of the chairs, creating a soft, tactile texture. The use of colour is also unexpected, highlighting the interesting materials and maximising their impact on the pieces. The end result is a new look at decoration. Each piece is the result of a creative dialogue between artisan, material and object. The humble Stick Chair becomes the starting point for an endless journey into textile decoration.
The term "stick chair" has long referred to a type of household furniture, seemingly simple in structure and appearance, associated with farmers and not considered worthy of record. The earliest recorded examples date back to the 10th century under the Welsh king Howell Thur. Stick chairs come in a variety of forms, but they share a common structure: a backrest and upright stick legs, usually secured to the seat by wedges. These sticks provide the inspiration for the creative textile decorations that this project aims to achieve. 30 stick chairs were decorated, 22 of which were antique originals, and the remaining 8 were newly crafted by a British atelier specializing in stick chairs.
The eight Royd Loom chairs, produced by Vincent Shepherd in Belgium, represent the culmination of this project, exploring the functional and decorative value of chairs. Royd Loom is a unique method of creating a durable woven texture. It is said to have originated in 1917, during World War I, when American entrepreneur Marshall Barnes Lloyd invented the technique of weaving large sheets of paper-wrapped wire using a machine. Initially developed for use in strollers, Royd Loom proved more durable than rattan and was eventually applied to furniture as an innovative fabric suitable for outdoor use. In 1992, Vincent Shepherd patented the material and established a factory in Cirebon, Indonesia, a city renowned for its weaving techniques and rattan bending traditions. LOEWE's Royd Loom chairs are crafted from natural fibers and leather. They are painted with a mushroom motif and woven entirely using the Royd Loom technique, further expanding the possibilities of basketry at LOEWE.
All chairs will be for sale. Also available for a limited time are bags and leather goods inspired by the chair's materials and techniques.
#LOEWE #LOEWEsalone
The Milan Salone (officially known as the Salone del Mobile) extends LOEWE's focus on craft from artisanal art to everyday objects. It is an opportunity to find new ways of expressing handiwork and human invention, nurturing them as truly progressive tools.
Chairs are the centrepiece of this year's project. Titled "LOEWE Chairs", it will run from April 18th to April 23rd in the courtyard of Palazzo Isimbardi. The hands and eyes of ingenious artisans from around the world, through their weaving and decorative techniques, reframe the everyday and humble objects, transforming them into one-of-a-kind pieces. These weaving techniques create new textures, and soft, sculptural embellishments are explored as a way to expand upon basic forms.
The project showcases a variety of knitting techniques, from core LOEWE materials like leather and raffia to more unexpected options like thermal blanket foil (a heat-insulating and heat-resistant material used in satellites). Shearling and felt are also used to cover parts of the chairs, creating a soft, tactile texture. The use of colour is also unexpected, highlighting the interesting materials and maximising their impact on the pieces. The end result is a new look at decoration. Each piece is the result of a creative dialogue between artisan, material and object. The humble Stick Chair becomes the starting point for an endless journey into textile decoration.
The term "stick chair" has long referred to a type of household furniture, seemingly simple in structure and appearance, associated with farmers and not considered worthy of record. The earliest recorded examples date back to the 10th century under the Welsh king Howell Thur. Stick chairs come in a variety of forms, but they share a common structure: a backrest and upright stick legs, usually secured to the seat by wedges. These sticks provide the inspiration for the creative textile decorations that this project aims to achieve. 30 stick chairs were decorated, 22 of which were antique originals, and the remaining 8 were newly crafted by a British atelier specializing in stick chairs.
The eight Royd Loom chairs, produced by Vincent Shepherd in Belgium, represent the culmination of this project, exploring the functional and decorative value of chairs. Royd Loom is a unique method of creating a durable woven texture. It is said to have originated in 1917, during World War I, when American entrepreneur Marshall Barnes Lloyd invented the technique of weaving large sheets of paper-wrapped wire using a machine. Initially developed for use in strollers, Royd Loom proved more durable than rattan and was eventually applied to furniture as an innovative fabric suitable for outdoor use. In 1992, Vincent Shepherd patented the material and established a factory in Cirebon, Indonesia, a city renowned for its weaving techniques and rattan bending traditions. LOEWE's Royd Loom chairs are crafted from natural fibers and leather. They are painted with a mushroom motif and woven entirely using the Royd Loom technique, further expanding the possibilities of basketry at LOEWE.
All chairs will be for sale. Also available for a limited time are bags and leather goods inspired by the chair's materials and techniques.
#LOEWE #LOEWEsalone
