MILAN DESIGN WEEK | RAW NARRATIVES | SATELLITE
The SaloneSatellite was created in 1998 for the sole purpose of bring together in the same place and time the most promising young designers from all over the world. Allowing them to showcase their wares in the hope of being scouted by business people, brands and or press. They are hidden at the very back of the vast Rho Fiera, where the main trade fair is held, with Satellite always a welcomed escape from the larger branded expose’. Vladimir Hauber from Raw Narratives talked us through his unique style of upcycling, describing the immense impact the leather industry has on our environment but yet he found the recycling possibilities to be even greater than the damage it’s causing. He was so excited to explain how each type of leather brings along a different story, but most importantly a natural behaviour hidden behind our own personal visual understanding of the material.
The two designers from Raw Narratives, Vladimir Hauber and Iva Dinulovic met at University in Belgrade, Serbia then studied an MA together at the Royal College of Art in London and both became interested in exploring and combining the natural properties and behaviors of leather. They both wished to discover the variables and possibilities within a manufacturing process. After extensive research they were led to the conclusion that different types of leather, when treated with specific moisture, heat and pressure, create their own natural bonds that not only transform the material, but gives it properties of other materials as well. We couldn’t believe when touching the objects how they displayed the properties of wood, yet still had that rich leather smell.
The collection they presented ‘Bonded Leather’ is one that really resonated with us during our trip to Milan, due to their polished execution and story behind their design process. Their starting point was getting to know the characteristics of the material as well as the processes used to shape and to transform it, such as cuir bouilli for example, as well as the handcrafting methods used in different areas of industry. Their aim was to find new ways to employ these crafts and let the material develop the process. It is fascinating to see what degree some leathers can transform into while still maintaining fragments of their previous journey. As a result they created different leather laminates, each bringing a different aesthetic, as well as a new physical property, such as strength and elasticity.
The current collection consists of two side tables, pendant lights, vessels, as well as candle holders collection and handcrafted leather pencil. We can’t wait to hear the progression and journey their collection will take and we wish them all the success in the world, rule and run Raw Narratives run.
Portrait Image by Emma Elizabeth
All Other Images by Raw Narratives
© LOCAL DESIGN
