Drape and Rise by Konstantin Grcic 04.13

Drape and Rise are the first in a series of non-woven concepts designed by Konstantin Grcic in collaboration with Maharam. The result of five years of intensive development, these sleek industrial materials demonstrate an innovative approach to dimensionality and tactility.

Maharam invited Grcic to explore non-woven textiles based on his finesse with polymers as demonstrated by designs like the Mayday lamp, the Muira bar stool, and the MYTO cantilever chair. In 2008, Grcic toured various manufacturing facilities throughout Europe with a member of the Maharam Design Studio to acquire an understanding of the complex production processes at his disposal. He then developed his ideas in the abstract by experimentally applying pattern and texture on furniture forms placed in a range of atmospheric settings. These renderings were later presented as a series of workbooks documenting his comprehensive design process.

Drape and Rise make use of traditional embossing rollers to create real and implied dimensionality. Drape's emboss of recessed dots creates the illusion of cascading fabric while Rise's convex emboss of cambering lines has the effect of mapping the three-dimensional forms on which it's applied. In both materials, a contrasting color is "tip printed";—or selectively applied to specific points of the emboss—to heighten the appearance of depth. Drape by Konstantin Grcic will launch in June, followed by Rise in August.

Konstantin Grcic is an industrial designer based in Munich. He trained as a cabinetmaker before studying design at the Royal College of Art in London. Having apprenticed with Jasper Morrison, Grcic established his own practice in 1991 as Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design (KGID). He has designed furniture, lighting, and other products for clients including Classicon, Established & Sons, Flos, Magis, Muji, Plank, and Vitra. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, among others. Solo exhibitions of his work have been held at Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam (2006) and the Art Institute of Chicago (2009). Grcic is currently working on other commissions for Maharam, including a memo sample storage system for clients and bags for Maharam's forthcoming accessories collection. More non-woven textiles will follow in 2014.

Drape by Konstantin Grcic
Width: 54”/137 cm
Colors: 10
Content: 100% Vinyl

Rise by Konstantin Grcic
Width: 54”/137 cm
Colors: 10
Content: 100% Vinyl