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A collection of eco-friendly chairs and stools made from recycled PET bottles.
As plastic waste is drowning our planet’s oceans and landfills at an increasing pace, responsible brands and design studios offer eco-friendly solutions to counter this worrying trend. Introducing the Vale collection, designed by London-based design firm Layer for US furniture brand KFI Studios. The range provides a welcome residential and contract furniture alternative in a world where 9 million tons of furniture reaches landfills – in the US alone. Vale represents the best of sustainable design. The chairs and stools feature shells and seats made of a tactile felt material. Manufactured from recycled PET bottles, the pressed felt shells are not only eco-friendly but also sturdy, durable, and easy to maintain.
The plastic is carefully spun into the non-woven felt which is then heat-pressed into the desired shape, resulting in a soft and impact-resistant material. Additionally, the felt shells and seats are attached with simple bolts onto the steel frame, to make removal extremely easy. That way, users can recycle the chairs and stools at the end of their lifespan.
Timeless chairs and stools inspired by the curves of a valley.
The Vale chairs and stools also look beautiful. Inspired by the beauty of nature and the curvilinear forms of a valley, the series features elegant curved shapes that maximize comfort and visual impact at the same time. The shells wrap around the steel frames in an elegant gesture, reminding of the rises and falls of rolling hills and valleys. The intentionally minimalist aesthetic extends the longevity of the designs further, as the timeless collection defies the passage of time and of seasonal trends.
“The Vale collection is a study in restraint – in materials, form, and design language – that echoes the restraint required to live responsible in today’s world. In doing so, it celebrates the mindful approach of Layer as a design studio,” says Benjamin Hubert of Layer.
The Vale series comprises a chair, an armchair, a lounge chair, high and low stools, and an ottoman. All of the products suit high-use areas such as hospitality settings and offices, but Vale also looks at home in residential spaces. KFI Studios offers the range of six colors: Charcoal, Grey, Stone, Midnight, Sage, and Garnet. Optional cushions can also provide extra comfort. KFI Studios launched the Vale collection at the NeoCon design even which ran from 12-14 June 2023 at The Mart in Chicago. There, the series received two awards: the MetropolisLikes award and the Best of Neocon Award. Apart from the Vale collection, Layer also designed the furniture brand’s NeoCon stand. Photography © KFI Studios.
