The pandemic stopped the entire world, and therefore, we could witness the improvement of air quality in several areas and countries. Organizations and governments are now discussing how to tackle the economic crisis in a post-pandemic world while battling climate change.
After a strict lockdown, some Italian brands and artisans are relaunching their collections and trying to make up for revenue losses while going back to a new normal.
During the month of July, together with @italiabark, we are sharing with our trend membership subscribers the latest news on Italian design relaunch. We are so glad to see important and traditional Italian brands relaunching sustainable versions of their iconic design pieces.
Both brands and designers are incorporating principles of the circular economy and circular design in all kinds of projects and products from furniture and surfaces. Meet some of them:
SENSI OF CASA DOLCE CASA
One of the collection to watch out for in 2020 is the “Sensi of Casa Dolce Casa” by Florim and Matteo Tun by internationally renowned Italian companies Florim and Matteo Thun. The collection takes the form of large ceramic tiles designed to “be touched with your eyes and caressed with your fingers.”
It also combines the harmony of nature with innovation to add a sense of comfort and balance to interiors. The neutral, soft and natural colours, thin finish and pattern’s light effects evoke a decorative concept inspired by “non-colour” and the graininess of the earth.
“Sensi” was developed with close attention to environmental and energy impact. The collection is made of natural raw materials and with 60% of recycled materials, and it is also the result of up to 100% sustainable production process, both in terms of water consumption and self-generated electricity.
PATCHA COLLECTION
CC-TAPIS, Milan-based design company specialised in contemporary handmade rugs, launched Patcha a new collection in collaboration with Patricia Urquiola. Patcha explores patch-work spontaneity of mixed media collage, overlapping and assembling strips of mint green, lavender, taupe, burgundy and speckled technicolour fields to create inventive graphic compositions.
The investigation of reused and upcycled materials is central to Urquiola’s creative process. In this collections, she uses sustainable dyeing techniques and therefore less water and also unusual materials like castoff silk from Indian Sari production. She also breathes new life into once discarded wool. The speckled technicolour fields, for example, are created by using left-over silk and surplus wool is taken from the production from previous rugs.
The outcome is simply stunning!
SACCO GOES GREEN BY ZANOTTA
Zanotta’s iconic Sacco celebrates 50 years and is back now in a brand new green edition. Designed in 1968 by architects Gatti, Paolini, and Teodoro, Sacco expressed the ideals of creativity of that time and also highlighted a new era of freedom for the home. After 50 years, Sacco still maintains its relevance with the same experimental spirit.
Zanotta celebrates this anniversary by launching SACCO GOES GREEN in innovative and sustainable materials– both the internal padding and the cover, featuring a brand-new pattern by Pierre Charpin.
The expanded high-resistant polystyrene pellets (EPS) of the original design are replaced by BioFoam® microspheres by Synbra: a bio-plastic (PLA) deriving from sugar cane that can be compared to EPS due to its structure, properties and technical performances.
The main difference is the raw material: EPS is based on fossil raw materials (a finite resource), while BioFoam® consists of biopolymers, which are made of vegetable materials (an infinite resource). BioFoam® is biodegradable, and it can be industrially composted, it is durable and is suitable for long-term use.
The envelope is made of ECONYL®, a completely renewed nylon thread derived from discarded fishing nets recovered from the seabed, synthetic fabric, and industrial plastic waste, that are transformed into a new thread with the same quality and properties as if it was made from oil.
ECONYL® thread can be recycled, renewed and remodelled countless times without the use of any additional natural resources. SACCO GOES GREEN marks an important step towards sustainability for Zanotta. The company that took part in the Fuorisalone Digital last week is committed to an approach guided by the principles of the circular economy. We really hope that Zanotta keeps expanding its commitment and that other renowned brands invest in green products and systems.
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Ph Credit: courtesy from @Zanotta, @cc-tapis and Matheo Thun