raw edges: selvedge for kvadrat

‘selvedge’ by raw-edges for kvadrat

the ‘hallingdal’ was the first fabric produced by danish textile manufacturer kvadrat. designed by nanna ditzel in 1965, it is now available in 58 colorways and in a version with an updated color scale known as the ‘hallingdal 65’. on the occasion of milan design week 2012, the company presents a special exhibition celebrating their most iconic fabric at the jil sander showroom.

one of the selected projects being presented is that of london-based design studio raw-edges (yael mer and shay alkalay). usually found lining the borders of a textile while on a roll, the selvedge is cut and not included as a part of the end product. the duo’s project derives its name from this typically discarded portion of fabric and celebrates it. using the linear elements of the ‘hallingdal 65’, they stretch it to dictate the form and structure of an armchair, emphasized by these ‘unravelling parts’.

alternative view

the warp and weft threads of the cloth allowed the pair to undo and release threads from within the woven surface, creating a hollow sleeve. they then placed two layers in different colors on top of each other and restitched them together using a transparent strip. the result is a colorful rim which appears from the exterior, reminiscent of the selvedge that is found at the hem of raw fabrics.

the armchair celebrates the linear elements of the ‘hallingdal 65’

‘the tricky thing about hallingdal 65 is that it is beautiful as it is. it just needs to be spread out to reveal its qualities,‘ says mer. like much of their previous work, the process for this particular endeavour was one of experimentation. ‘we started with trying to ‘break’ it, or more correctly to ‘un-weave it, while trying not to ruin its original exquisiteness,‘ explains shay.

the warp and weft of the fabric allowed the duo to undo and release threads in order to create the hollow sleeve formation

profile

process images whereby threads were released from the fabric and bound using a transparent strip

the special ‘kvadrat hallingdal 65’ exposition is curated by tord boontje, ilse crawford, søren rose, constance rubini, hans maier-aichen, jeffrey bernett and andre fu, with executive curators patrizia moroso and giulio ridolfo. it features the works of 32 designers who have all re-interpreted the ‘hallingdal 65′ in new contemporary ways. alongside raw-edges’ ‘selvedge’ armchair is ‘welcome’ by mermelada studio of spain and ‘hallingdal table by fredrikson stallard of the UK.

‘welcome’ by mermelada studio photo by angela moore

an indoor playhouse for children, ‘welcome’ by mermelada studio takes on a form reminiscent of typical imaginary structures of our youth such as a teepee or an igloo. the tiered conical formation is influenced by a chinese lantern.

‘hallingdal table’ by frederkson stallard

approaching the use of fabric from a construction point of view, rather than soley by an aesthetic and decorative perspective, london-based designer fredrikson stallard’s ‘hallingdal table’ explores the possibilities of achieving structure from a soft wool fabric, using nothing but the textile itself as the main building block.