Launched in 1968 with a collection of fabrics by Nanna Ditzel, Kvadrat has quckily become the go-to brand for upholstery textiles. Made in Ebeltoft, Denmark, its collections are created by the world's most celebrated talents and used in homes, museums and hospitality projects globally.
A new film charts the history of this wondrous design company, featuring striking imagery from its 50-plus years as well as testimonials from some of the many designers and artists who regularly collaborate with the brand on collections, products and special installations.
Kvadrat: what some of the world's most celebrated designers have to say
‘There is this total freedom, there is this total experiment, a hippie kind of attitude, although it’s a business it feels very free,’ comments Belgian designer Raf Simons, whose collection of textiles for Kvadrat was launched as a brand in 2014 and expanded to include home accessories as well as upholstery fabrics.
‘It does feel like a family, it does feel like a community of friends,’ adds American designer Jonathan Olivares, who has been tasked to design Kvadrat's New York showroom opening later in 2021. ‘They’re a perfect melting pot of art, architecture, engineering, design, colour research.’
Long-term collaborators Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, who have worked with Kvadrat on textiles as well as products such as the ‘Ready Made’ curtain collection from 2013, focus on Kvadrat's colour expertise. ‘They really master colours,’ says Erwan. ‘[they are] incredibly strong at making a huge variety of textile, but always with a very centered philosophy.’ Adds Ronan: ‘when you see the range of colour, it’s a marvel, it’s like opening a box of water colours: the delicacy of greens, the beauty of a yellow.’
Kvadrat's creative expression also come to life through the work of artists such as Pipilotti Rist. ‘I share with Kvadrat my love for colours,’ says the German artist. ‘Colour is like music, you fall into it, it’s dangerous, it’s overwhelming.’
INFORMATION
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Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streetsOn the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
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The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealedCharli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
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Skateboards, rocking horses and a giant octopus: Kvadrat invites designers to consider the potential of textilesThrough Kvadrat ReThink, 12 designers explore the meaning of responsible design through the Danish brand's library of recycled, regenerative, and circular materials
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Lighting by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio is inspired by sunlight filtered through cloudsLadies & Gentlemen Studio launches new lighting collections at 3 Days of Design 2024 in Copenhagen, using textiles by Kvadrat and Sahco
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Patricia Urquiola and Kvadrat create the world’s first upholstery textile made of 100% ocean-bound plasticNamed Best Recycled Material at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2024, Patricia Urquiola’s Sport textile for Kvadrat was created in collaboration with Swiss specialist #tide
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Dahn Vo presents his new Kvadrat curtains through an installation in his Berlin apartmentWe visit artist Dahn Vo's Berlin apartment to discover his 'Trapped in heaven' collection of Kvadrat curtains featuring translucent calligraphy
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Ronan Bouroullec’s drawings become Kvadrat textilesDanish textile brand Kvadrat sees the power of Ronan Bouroullec's drawings, launching a new collection inspired by his sketches
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Salmon Eye visitor centre in Norway features specially-developed interior panel system by Kvadrat AcousticsInside Salmon Eye visitor centre: faced with an ellipsoid interior, Kvorning Design called on Kvadrat Acoustics to create a bespoke set of Soft Cells panels involving 250 unique shapes
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Raf Simons and Kvadrat launch a Shaker-inspired accessories collectionLaunching on 10 August 2022, the new accessories collection by Raf Simons for Kvadrat includes cushions, throws, bags, as well as tray, box, magazine holder, cap, and two key chains whose design is driven by functionality
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Kvadrat Sisu fabric by Nanna Ditzel reinterpreted by Danh VoOriginally conceived by Nanna Ditzel in the 1960s, the Kvadrat Sisu upholstery fabric is a bold take on the designer’s iconic Hallingdal, now revisited by artist Danh Vo in 16 new colours
