
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.
making do
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 “chi-chi” chair was inspired by cuban conga garments.
big thanks to the team — chris, tim, and danika for their talent and help!