The hanging chair was met with positive reception following its debut, with customers praising its organic shape and unique multicolor palette.

Staying true to the original chair’s multicolored fibers, the team hoped the palette would transfer smoothly to the lounge chair. Photo courtesy DEDON

Few have successfully achieved the open weave concept to the level of DEDON and Stephen. The chair’s fiber is wrapped around a sturdy aluminum frame as opposed to organic elements like rattan or outdoor rope. Its cradle-like structure envelops the user in a plush cushion while light and air flow through its gentle curves. The effect, as Stephen says, is to feel “as free as the breeze.”

Stephen designed the KIDA hanging chair in a way that would allow it to evolve beyond its original iteration. The lineup now includes an armchair, footstool, and most recently, a lounge chair. This visionary mindset doesn’t surprise Julia Shapovalova, creative director at DEDON. She says Stephen often envisions the future of multiple collections at once. When it came to the new KIDA lounge chair, he didn’t just present a concept—he was immersed in every detail.

“He came up with an amazing design that we didn’t know how to implement right away,” Julia says. “He was always five steps ahead. Sometimes he’s too fast—the world isn’t ready for the ideas he comes up with. Working with him has been a source of inspiration. He’s always ready for our experiments, and he always says ‘yes.’”

Few have successfully achieved the open-weave concept to the level of DEDON and Stephen. The chair’s fiber is wrapped around a sturdy aluminum frame as opposed to organic elements like rattan or outdoor rope. Photo courtesy DEDON, illustration by Chris Force

Much like its predecessors, crafting the KIDA lounge chair was a meticulous process unfolding over several years. New weaving techniques and specialized fibers were also developed, resulting in more than 10 prototypes.

“I’m sure people were wondering why it took so long to create,” Julia says. “We went through many ideas and tests. Each prototype looked completely different, especially in terms of typology. If you lined them up next to each other you’d immediately see the difference. It was a long process.”

Staying true to the original chair’s multicolored fibers, the team hoped the palette would transfer smoothly to the lounge chair. While its aesthetic versatility made the lounge suitable for various uses, there was concern around where consumers would place it.

Much like its predecessors, crafting the KIDA lounge chair was a meticulous process unfolding over several years. New weaving techniques and specialized fibers were also developed, resulting in more than 10 prototypes. Photo courtesy DEDON

“Inside the home furniture can act as an accent piece,” Julia says. “The entire world is yours. Outdoor has a different standard because it’s much more functionality focused. Everyone was saying, ‘Oh my god, it’s so colorful. We don’t need this kind of colorful chair. Our end consumer and dealers will never accept it.’” 

Once the chair was unveiled at the furniture fair Salone del Mobile, however, the market fell in love. “People embraced the KIDA right away,” Julia says. “They were in the booth saying, ‘Wow, this is such a colorful chair, and I know exactly where I’m going to place it. It’s the best success story.”

Following the Bauhaus tradition, Stephen sought design universality with the KIDA lineup—a democratic approach catering to a range of situations and people. The excitement surrounding the lounge chair is a testament. Shortly after the fair, the original hanging chair was showcased in an exhibit highlighting innovative designs worldwide at Switzerland’s Vitra Design Museum.

“The KIDA hanging chair swung onto the scene at a time when more people were looking for exciting ways to be outside,” Stephen says. “I believe it plays a meaningful role for people in expressing this lifestyle choice.”

“If people think of KIDA when they think of being outdoors or imagine a swing, then we’ve done our job,” says Stephen. Photo courtesy DEDON

With its potential for various color combinations and Stephen as its creative lead, the KIDA line is likely to continue to evolve well into the future. “We have lots of exciting directions we could go in,” Julia says. “Sometimes we postpone ideas that are too ‘out there’ for the current market. Funny enough, some meetings center around which product we’ll postpone for next year. We have many amazing proposals and ideas. It’s time to launch something even crazier.”

While predicting a product’s path to icon status is often impossible, Julia encourages brands to be daring and “try something wild,” to stand out from the crowd.

“I suppose an icon defines the zeitgeist and is what you imagine when you think of that lifestyle, space, or typology,” Stephen says. “If people think of KIDA when they think of being outdoors or imagine a swing, then we’ve done our job.”

dedon.de

A version of this article originally appeared in Sixtysix Issue 12. Subscribe today

With Soho Home, both members and the public can transport those luxurious interiors into our own dwellings. Launched in 2016, the Home branch of Soho House & Co. offers handcrafted furniture alongside textiles, lighting, and tableware to the masses. It’s complemented by Soho Home Design, an interior design service that pairs customers with a dedicated designer who will cater to their taste and budget.

The Truro Sectional Sofa paired with the Gabriel Armchair and Ramsey Coffee Table.

Over the years, the demand for Soho Home has grown. Following showroom-style spaces in New York and Los Angeles, the newest Soho Home Studio has opened its doors in Chicago’s Fulton Market. Unlike the other two locations, which are separate showrooms, the Chicago studio is grafted onto the preexisting Soho House, allowing members peek into the design process, feel material samples, test furniture configurations, and meet with consultants who can build a seamless transition from VIP lounge to the personal living room.

The Garret Armchair finally has a durable fabric fit for outdoor use.

Luckily, the new space is also open to the public, so anyone can strut through the lobby to enter the two floor, 1,726 square foot studio. Inside, they’ll discover some of the most coveted pieces of Soho House furniture, including the clamshell-like Garret chair, the bulbous Oxley marble coffee table, and the statuesque Murcell dining table with its matching dining chairs.

Soho Home just launched their spring collections, which draw inspiration from their locations in Italy, London, and Sao Paolo. One standout is the Charli coffee table, inspired by Soho House Rome, which combines vibrant strips of Dark Emperador marble from Spain, Rosa Tea marble from the Philippines, and Green Onyx stone from Pakistan. Another eye-catching piece is the Eldon three-seater sofa, found within the DUMBO location, which features straight, solid walnut legs that pierce into the round, upholstered arms.

“Drawing inspiration from the worn woods and knit fabrics from our more coastal houses, we’ve used aged oak, worn leather and rough-edged travertine on monolithic silhouettes to celebrate a raw form, creating both a modern yet tactile aesthetic,” said James Patmore, Design Director of Soho Home.

The red and white striped Aurea Cabana with a removable awning is inspired by Soho House Manchester.

In addition to the interior furniture, Soho Home has launched their first outdoor collection. At many locations, the rooftop pool and gardens are the main draw, and this 21-piece catalog includes the most coveted sun loungers and cabanas. Highlights include the red and white striped Aurea Cabana with a removable awning, inspired by Soho House Manchester; and the Christopher Farr Cactus Flower print, a vintage-inspired textile that can enhance either the boxy Morrell outdoor dining chair or the round Garret outdoor armchair.

“Launching as our first full outdoor range, the range takes its cues from our celebrated house outdoor spaces, where we thrive on making environments that flow seamlessly from inside to outdoor. We’ve curated beautifully patterned fabrics alongside our signature house stripes, rich wood tones, and bold colors to provide a well-rounded collection that represents our unique take on outdoor living,” James said.

Soho House members receive a discount on these collections, but anyone can shop at Soho Home. Grab your most coveted armchair and live like a VIP from the comfort of your living room.

Ryker Outdoor Dining table in stained teak with Morrell Outdoor Dining Chairs with Christopher Farr’s Cactus Flower print.

From the Babington House sunbeds, the Ardingly Outdoor Lounger features Christopher Farr’s Cactus Flower print.

Now in velvet, the Paolo Bed brings SoHo House Rome into the bedroom.

sohohome.com

In a new photobook called Malanka Yelena Yemchuk captures magic and spirit of the cultural tradition through a personal, feminine lens. The book, published by Edition Patrick Frey, is the Ukrainian-American artist’s sixth and is a poignant collection of images made with endless love for Ukraine and its people.

Although—or perhaps because—Yelena emigrated at age 11 while Ukraine was occupied by the Soviet Union, her emotional, cultural, and social ties to her homeland are indelible. Now an artist, photographer, and film director Yelena travels to Ukraine as often as she can, and much of her work revolves around the people and places that she encounters on her visits.

Malanka gets its name from the Eastern European version of a widely known myth: Mother Earth’s daughter, Malanka, was stolen away by the devil, and spring bloomed upon her return from the underworld.

On a trip to Crasna (or Krasnoilsk in Ukrainian), a town known for its celebration of Malanka, Yelena was captivated. She joined the folkloric festivities in 2019 and again in 2020, which marked her last visit to her home Ukraine before the proliferation of Covid just weeks later and the Russian invasion in 2022.

In the years since, Yelena translated her experience at Malanka to the new photo book and an artistic short film. Each depiction contains an echo of magic, a bit surreal. The work is a portrait of the festival but also an examination of the artist’s Ukrainian identity, flavored with her particular taste for blending the reality of post-Soviet Ukraine with a dreamlike, cinematic femininity. The images blur her heritage with her New York perspective for a hazy and surreal effect.

Anya Domashyna is a close friend and collaborator to Yelena. Courtesy of Edition Patrick Frey

The Malanka short film also bears Yelena’s trademark surrealist investigation of identity. It is the second in a trilogy of films made with Ukrainian artist Anya Domashyna. American actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, Girls—and Yelena’s husband) also features in the film, which debuted in 2023 as part of Yelena’s solo exhibition at the Ukrainian Museum in New York. “They’re surrealist films about loss of identity, and maybe have a lot to do with my never belonging psychologically to anywhere that I’ve been—except when I get back to Ukraine,” Yelena told Sixtysix ahead of the film’s release.

In light of the ongoing conflict with Russia Malanka, like Yelena’s 2022 books Odesa and УYY, takes on a certain solemnity, even in its enchanting, vibrant presentation. Ethnic Romanians in western Ukraine have kept the Spring festival alive through centuries of change, turbulence, and cultural and political shifts. Malanka has fed the spirit of Ukraine—a symbol and celebration of its unique culture and identity—over many years. Its depth of meaning comes through in Yelena’s photographs accompanied by a poetic essay by Romanian cultural journalist Ioana Pelehatăi.

Yelena Yemchuk, “Malanka,” Edition Patrick Frey, 2024

The book launched at Arcana in LA on Saturday, February 17. Dashwood Books in New York will host a signing on March 6, and Claire de Rouen in London will host a signing on April 25.

yelenayemchuk.com

Stella has long been fascinated by the Camaleonda, which Mario introduced via the legendary furniture company B&B Italia in 1970. The tufted sofa is low, wide, and curvaceous. The plush surface bobs up and down like a hilly meadow. Each piece of the freeform system is shaped like a square or a rectangle, and they tile together like dominos. The sturdy, oblong backrests easily detach from the cushion, so they can be leaned against a wall or float freely in the center of a Camaleonda tessellation.

The tufted sofa is low, wide, and curvaceous. Each piece of the freeform system is shaped like a square or a rectangle, and they link together like domino tiles.

Due to the enduring popularity of the Camaleonda, B&B Italia reissued the sofa in 2020, which has led to its omnipresence in influencer photoshoots. While its form remains timeless, Stella saw an opportunity to update its upholstery to match her brand’s commitment to sustainability. During Miami Beach’s busiest, glitziest week with Design Miami and Art Basel, Stella and B&B Italia debuted a new version of the Camaleonda sofa with a monogrammed print on a biodegradable, eco-conscious textile.

This is the second time Stella has worked with B&B Italia to coat Mario’s designs with a sustainable fabric. In 2022, just after Mario introduced a new version of his Le Bambole armchair that swapped polyurethane for modern, earth friendly materials, Stella put her French toile-inspired “Fungi Forest” print on his Le Bambole armchair.

“I have loved Mario Bellini’s designs for years, and I cannot put into words how thrilled I am to see my prints on his pieces once again,” Stella McCartney said.

The sofa feature’s Stella McCartney’s “S-Wave” print. It’s a subtle monogram that twists like the strands of DNA that inspired it.

Stella’s new print is called “S-Wave.” It’s a subtle monogram that twists like the strands of DNA that inspired it. The print’s small scale adds a new dimension to the sofa, accentuating its shape even more. With every dip, tuck, and fold, the pattern’s contrast illuminates another aspect of the Camaleonda’s design.

“The S-Wave is a symbol of our commitments to circularity and conscious luxury, which are so perfectly embodied by B&B Italia’s Camaleonda sofa, constructed from pioneering materials kinder to Mother Earth. This collaboration truly is a harmony of our shared passions for next-generation sustainability and timeless craftsmanship,” B&B Italia said.

Stella McCartney’s blush pink and ivory textiles are made from biodegradable OceanSafe naNea yarn. The durable fabric does not shed microplastics.

The Camaleonda is most often seen in velvet, but Stella’s blush pink and ivory textiles are made from biodegradable OceanSafe naNea yarn. It is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold and does not contain harmful substances. The durable fabric does not shed microplastics.

You can find Stella’s take on the Camaleonda at the new B&B Italia Design Studio in Miami. There, you’ll see how B&B Italia is turning seventies cult classics into contemporary obsessions.

bebitalia.com
stellamccartney.com