In this June instalment of Material Matters, we highlight innovation in adding a unique, contemporary twist to traditional materials.
Rupert Bevan crafts fine furniture with a unique and luxurious twist
Rupert Bevan and his team of designers, makers and finishers finely craft unique furniture and luxurious interior finishes. The spectrum of work they undertake is vast and varied both in style and scale. All of Rupert Bevan’s furniture and finishes are made in Britain, often by hand, and using traditional and sometimes rare artisan techniques. Recent interiors projects utilising brass, zinc, copper and mirror forge a link between luxury materials and cutting-edge design.
Ellis White combines materials, manufacturing and form for unique footwear
Ellis White is a newly established footwear brand that seeks to create a relationship between material, manufacturing and form. Taking cues from industrial manufacturing techniques for use on a much smaller scale, Ellis White has developed Bit Leather – an upcycled leather composite material – using scraps of leather from the footwear industry to meticulously craft custom heels and soles. Sculptural shapes are given a contemporary treatment through playful colours, contrasting textures and a detailed approach to construction.
Xiral Segard’s Work in Concrete adds beauty to a traditional building material
Xiral Segard is fascinated by the concept of "work in progress”. She predominantly uses building materials such as concrete, which form the basis for her collections Wall Of Fame and Watertower at Home. For the latter project, Segard created a tall, concrete structure that is both architectural and practical. The side table is a tribute to the “monumental architecture” of the French countryside. And complete with a removable wooden tray, it is the perfect addition to any contemporary space.
Marianne Kemp transforms horsehair into delicate textile works
Textile artist Marianne Kemp specialises in weaving with horsehair. Each piece has a unique character, granted by her unconventional weaving techniques and the combination of texture, colour and movement. The Mountain Shine collection fuses handwoven horsehair in an organic pattern with a brown woollen background. The warm colours of caramel and yellow flow into one another to create a landscape – inspired by a recent trip to Japan. Similarly, HCHWA-D also finds inspiration in nature.
www.horsehairweaving.com/weaving
Stay tuned for the July instalment of Material Matters, coming soon.
