Stitch
Category: Furniture
Competitions: Home Competition 2025
Stitch is a premium furniture collection inspired by the idea of connection; between people, materials, and memories. Initially inspired by scaffolding due to its strength and harmony, it was a trip to Milan that provoked great attention to detail that had to be evident throughout my work. I was also interested in how the contrasting elements can come together in harmony, and how furniture can serve not just functionally but also evoke emotion, telling a story. At the heart of this piece is the relationship between soft, sustainable leather and hard metal. These materials are rarely paired directly, yet in Stitch, they are thoughtfully integrated to support and enhance one another. The leather, warm and tactile, is held by a frame of metal that typically conveys strength. However, the way the two are joined softens the visual language of the metal, making it feel supportive rather than harsh. This tension and balance—between hard and soft, strength and sensitivity—mirrors the human experience of connection. The project also explores the idea that materials can hold a memory. A piece of leather, over time, takes on the imprint of its use, every mark adds character and adds to the pieces story. I was curious about how a piece of furniture can spark memories or conversation—how its materials, forms, or craftsmanship might invite reflection. Through sustainable sourcing, including traceable leather with a low carbon footprint (21.5 kg CO₂e), the piece also addresses the environmental challenges of modern furniture-making, without sacrificing beauty or durability. The final design uses an elegant metal frame to cradle the seat and backrest, with the leather stitched and tensioned in ways that emphasize its softness while maintaining durability. This is not furniture that hides its construction; rather, it celebrates it. The details invite closer inspection and discussion, offering layers of meaning for those who spend time with it. Ultimately, Stitch is a piece designed not just to be sat on, but to be remembered. It challenges assumptions about material compatibility and invites the user to consider the relationships—between textures, forms, and emotions—that exist within a single object. It demonstrates new thinking by taking materials often seen as oppositional and uniting them in a design that is both functional and poetic. By bringing together sustainability, emotional resonance, and material exploration, Stitch offers a vision for what contemporary furniture can be: thoughtful, intentional, and rooted in connection.
