SAXION AND RIA 2: THE EVOLUTION OF KVADRAT/RAF SIMONS

Since day one of their collaboration Raf Simons and Kvadrat have strived to push the limits of upholstery fabrics, marrying Simons’ unique aesthetic vision with Kvadrat’s unparalleled technical expertise.

As Kvadrat/Raf Simons has evolved, they have become more daring, devoting years to developing new textiles incorporating Simons’ masterful feel for colour and desire to expand the horizons for upholstery. Saxion, a crisp and modern bouclé, and Ria 2, a pointillist-inspired wool viscose, are the result of this shared commitment.

Saxion uses a specially developed yarn combining worsted wool with a polyester binding thread to achieve Raf Simons’ intended effect. With its natural structure and soft finish, the new generation bouclé applies a fashion sensibility to the rigour and durability of an upholstery textile.

“I wanted a new icon for the collection, something softer and more organic with a timeless modernist impact,” says Simons. “I love the structure of bouclé, which is used a lot in fashion but complicated for upholstery. Saxion has this structure which is beautifully natural almost like moss. I see it as the younger sibling of Vidar, one of my favourite Kvadrat/Raf Simons fabrics. Where Vidar has a harder, rougher and cleaner visual impact, Saxion is gentler and warmer because of its structure and special yarn that is more tied to the organic or natural.”

The colouration is inspired by Japanese vintage textiles and an intentional softening of the palette without losing the impact of pigmentation. Headlined by ultramarine, rhodonite pink and sunflower yellow, Saxion introduces new signature colours and a suite of timeless neutrals to the overall Kvadrat/Raf Simons collection.

“It has taken some years to develop Saxion, I’m sure we have tested it more than any other fabric because it can’t just be beautiful, it has to last. To me it represents a manifestation of my responsibility as an industrial designer to create something beautiful and long-lasting.”

Raf Simons uses colour as a form of expression. Ria 2 is the latest manifestation, playing with the perception of colour and amplifying the impact of contrast and juxtaposition. The second iteration of Ria draws on the painterly dots of pointillism to make an abstract composition of weave and colour.

The base of the textile is made up of a thinner, single-toned yarn, through which are woven two colours of thicker yarn, creating a textured dotting of colour on the surface with a subtle shimmer from the viscose. The organic almost floral expression changes markedly when viewed at close range or from a distance.

The minimal three-way palette of deep or vibrant tones offers diverse visual effects. From dramatic cobalt blue grounded by jet black and aubergine, to the lively combination of sage green, jet black and primrose yellow. For a softer expression, wisteria pink is united with dusty hunter green and powder white, while goldenrod primrose yellow and powder white offer a mellow vibrancy.

“I always work with feeling on colours, I’m obsessed with colours, obsessed. Colouring comes up in all my conversations with Kvadrat, because I believe the upholstery business generally is not very daring about colour. From day one colouration was one of the tools to give the collaboration an identity. We make a group of colours, never just purely commercial. We always try to challenge it and offer people options.”