“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Tuesday April 8th — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Tuesday April 8th — —

The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Tuesday April 8th — —

byBorre x Piet Hein Eek

Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek, who became famous for his use or rather reuse of unorthodox materials in his designs, has collaborated with textile designer Borre Akkersdijk on a beautiful new project which will be presented at Salone del Mobile from today until the 13th of April. The project started at one point at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi, a former ties factory in Milan, in which Eek found large quantities of unused silk necktie fabrics. After reaching out to Akkersdijk, the designers created a new product out of the tie garments. After careful selection through color and designs, a new larger garment was created out of the smaller pieces. First these small pieces were sewn together, subsequently filled with padding and finally it was totally stitched together, creating beautiful quilts illustrated by the designs which originally were to be found on the ties. The quilts are presented the coming days at Rosanna Orlandi which is the regular location of exhibition during Salone, creating a full circle, bringing the garments back to the place this journey originally started.

Piet Hein Eek was born in the Netherlands in 1967 and graduated from the Design Academy in Eindhoven in 1990. While at the Academy, he gained attention for his exam project Scrap Wood Cupboards. He sold all of the cupboards and used the money to start his own design studio in 1992. It is said that the designer first developed an interest in old materials after restoring a cupboard for his sister; after which he thought the old wood looked way more exciting than the new. At that time shiny splendor both economically and in design was the modus operandi, making Eek a pioneer in his vision, which was followed by many others in the years that would follow. Eek steadily built his business around used materials in Eindhoven, where he resides in a major industrial site, which he shares with other (upcoming) designers.

Borre Akkersdijk is a young Dutch designer based in Amsterdam and Paris, working in different fields with a focus on clothing, but having also worked with perfumes and on the side of trendforcaster Lidewij Edelkoort. Like Eek, the designer graduated from the Design Academy in Eindhoven although a lot has changed in the 19 years that lay between them. Since graduating Akkersdijk has worked on several projects developing unique quilted garments from all kinds of materials, a signature mode of production that supposedly was sparked after a tour in a mattress factory. Next to having studied at the same school Akkersdijk also shares a love with Eek for working with unorthodox materials, giving it a new life in his designs beyond the field of production they are commonly used in.

We love how Eek and Akkersdijk have found a beautiful new form for these lovely garments!

Make sure to see the quilts in Milan at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi, at Via Matteo Bandello 14-16 or order them online here.