imperfect waste and expressive craft
design in the 21st-century confronts waste as a new creative opportunity. applying her extensive knowledge of upholstered textiles and furniture, cia experiments with waste as a provocation to reconsider off-cuts and deadstock.
imperfect perfect
furniture factories are left with large amounts of textile off-cuts and yardage that may have no afterlife. a bolt of textile is typically 54” wide x 30 yards but furniture has many variables that cause excess waste. “dead stock” patterns that are out of favor also result in waste that may or may not be recyclable. opportunities exist to consider using off-cuts by design.
patchwork sofa concept: intentional asymetrical design and piecework pattern for use with excess textile remnants.
an experiment in craft from upcycling
cia collaborated with friends in portland’s maker community to knit, stitch, and assemble upcycled materials for an experimental chair project. the underlying structure is an old seat shell that was modified and covered in cotton batting. patterns were pieced together for the textiles and a knitted section. the base was fabricated using cardboard sonotubes and covered with bands of excess trim. the “chi-chi” chair was inspired by cuban conga dresses.
big thanks to the team — chris, tim, and danika for their talent and help!
