‘Knit-Net’ by design duo Bernotat&Co was inspired by the protective foam mesh used to package expensive fruit. The 3D knit, developed in collaboration with the TextielLab, protects the body from hard, cold chairs. The stretchy net structure and snap fasteners mean the knit can fit around the legs and armrests of any chair.
Bernotat&Co had the idea of dressing up chairs while working on the ‘Triennial Chair’ for Gispen. That chair has a separate backrest cushion, which can be upholstered with two different types of fabric in endless combinations. With the Chair Wear collection, Bernotat&Co wanted to take the idea even further. The designers decided to see upholstery as a separate item, as specially designed and tailormade clothing for chairs. The aim was not only to adapt and upgrade a chair’s design but also to make hard, wooden chairs more comfortable or to give simpler chairs extra functionality. To achieve this, the chairs were dressed in unexpected textiles, ranging from high-tech to industrial and traditional.
Yearbook TextielLab, 2012
