In design, every element counts. Sometimes you just have to go back to the most fundamental basics in order to achieve something truly remarkable. It takes time, experience and courage to recognize the beauty in an object, and then transform it from its initial intended purpose into something completely different.
Sandy Chilewich from Chilewich | Sultan LLC used to manage the hosiery company HUE, which led her to the world of textiles. Like many others, as she sought for a purpose, she came up with a very new and valuable idea – creating home accessory products with hosiery.
Perhaps her most famous range is the RayBowl collection, truly a one of a kind. It was created in 1997, through Sandy’s exploration of textiles. She describes the design as well as its mechanism as a rather simple idea. The bowl itself features a metal frame covered with nylon mesh. This mesh fabric is very similar to the material Sandy used during her time as the head of HUE.
The design has won numerous awards due to its innovative style. This particular piece also represents Sandy’s design theory, that design should be “functional”: the mesh is open and can breathe which makes it ideal for storing fruits and vegetables; it is also “durable” as the cover can come off easily and is machine washable; and it is “easy to clean” in addition to being “beautiful”.
While the RayBowl became a huge success, Sandy did not stop searching for more potential materials to be incorporated into the RayBowl series. During her search, she came across a woven vinyl upholstery fabric, perfect for outdoor furniture, but somewhat underrated. Very quickly Sandy saw the potential to use it in a different way, and in 2000, she started with her hugely successful placemats and floor mats collections.
One should never stop seeking and questioning. Who knows what’s just around the corner? Endless exploration is the true beauty in design.
