Raf Simons adds new textiles to Kvadrat collection

Raf Simons has further collaborated with Kvadrat to add new textiles to their collection.

Since the first collaboration in 2014, Kvadrat/Raf Simons has explored the very limits of upholstery fabrics by combining Simons’ singular visual aesthetics with Kvadrat’s technical know-how.

Simons’ vision is defined by his encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of fashion, art, music, architecture and design, using this to inform his work with textiles.

The inspiration for the new additions comes from fashion, in particular haute couture.

Looking specifically at fur and luxurious knits, he interprets the textures and techniques used in this craft and translates them into woven upholstery fabrics.

Together, Simons and Kvadrat transform natural materials such as wool, linen and viscose into textiles that capture the shine of fur or the matte appearance of a heavy woollen knit.

“For this year’s collection, I was very interested in experimenting with woven versions of some of the traditional materials and techniques used in haute couture, such as furs and knits,” comments Simons. “The result is two sensuous textiles with heavily textured yet extremely soft surfaces.”

Two new upholstery fabrics, Helia and Silas, have been added to the collection, whilst Sunniva 3 has received a colour update.

Offered in rich, sophisticated and surprising palettes, the fabrics balance well with the existing textures and more graphic textiles.

Three cushions in Silas have also been added to the accessories collection, adding subtle texture to a sofa or chair.

Inspired by Persian lamb fur, in particular Astrakhan, Helia is a bouclé textile with a heavy, organic texture. The swirls and whirls play across the surface resembling the fur itself, creating a seemingly random pattern that invites touch.

Helia is offered in a selection of subtle neutrals and more intense shades of maroon, blue and yellow with the yarn-dyed fabrics creating a rich melange effect in some of the shades.

Silas has a distinctive matte surface that evokes the luxurious appeal of haute couture knits.

Produced like a velvet, the fabric undergoes a complex finishing process involving six days of repeated unravelling and beating of the fibres to make them swell and resume their form.

The colour palette includes neutrals, rich golden shades and a selection of Simons’ signature hues.

Initially perceived as a rich, even-toned, plain fabric, on closer inspection Sunniva 3 is in fact a complex mix of two tones of wool woven in a tweed-like pattern, then given a gloss sheen by the addition of a small quantity of polyamide.

Part of the Kvadrat/Raf Simons collection from the very beginning, Sunniva 3 now comes in a new palette that lends a more mature appearance with a greater emphasis on neutrals.

Warm hues of soft brown, clay and brick contrast with cooler greys, and a group of greens, ranging from dark to aqua, have been introduced. Finally, a range of dark reds bring a slight masculine sophistication, rounding off the elegant offering.

www.kvadrat.dk