- The chair made out of tights -
The chair 50 DEN is the outcome of a project at the University of Applied Sciences Aachen. Task of the six week project was to create a new product out of an existing, familiar everyday object by modifying its characteristics and putting it into a new context.
My ambition was to develop a long-lasting product out of a typical disposable commodity.
Due their high liability to laddering, sheer tights are only in short term usage and therefore ideal for my purpose. By reprocessing the sensitive material into a new woven surface, the textile becomes more resistant and robust, but keeps its flexibility. In order to prevent further deterioration of tights, the 50 DEN is constructed to preserve the sensitivity of the material, as chairs are known to be a typical trap leading to ladders.
50 - RADIUS OF THE BENT COMPONENTS
DEN (DENIER) - A UNIT OF MEASURE FOR THE LINEAR MASS DENSITY OF FIBERS
Approximately 60 tights were woven into the new textile which only reveals its origins on closer examination. The techniques of a traditional weaving loom were used to guarantee the solidity of the fabric. The seat is directly woven into the chair frame and benefits from the textile´s elasticity, enabling the seating to adapt to every user. The frame consists of 12 mm and 6 mm steel bars, ensuring the required stability.
And that is how a worn-out piece of clothing with presumably rather low material worth and even lower sentimental value turns into a long-lasting product that enables a durable relationship between itself and its user.
Photos: Matthias Kirchner