Design
Liaigre’s “Upcrafted”
Two leather pieces from Liaigre Upcrafted’s collection.
Image courtesy of: Surface Magazine
Sustainable production is at the core of most interior design company’s ethos; as such, Liaigre recently released a series of limited-edition pieces called “Upcrafted.” These products have all been assembled from the studio’s waste.
Companies that produce luxury goods aren’t typically known for being environmentally sensitive; however this esteemed French firm hopes to change that with their new collection. The four pieces in the collection are produced as a result of scraps transformed into “ready objects.”
Door Stopper, a marble door stopper (made from excess stone) fitted with a bronze handle. The bronze piece is set into the stone in an asymmetrical “lump,” similar to a cork in a bottle. Currently, the door stopper is available in onyx and marble.
Image courtesy of: Liaigre eshop
As a whole, all the pieces in this Liaigre collection are designed to take advantage of scraps; however with “Upcrafted,” the design process begins (courtesy of Wallpaper) “by pre-empting production waste and- refreshingly- catering to it in order to produce more resourceful pieces.”
It is basically the design process turned upside-down… rather than design and create, the studio creates from what would otherwise be waste. This is the luxury design label’s first series of functional objects made from scraps and remnants of luxury materials that include bronze, leather, and wood.
The Vase
Image courtesy of: Liaigre eshop
In our opinion, the most impressive piece in the collection is the Vase which is made from waste leather. The elegant vessel is adorned with leather petals that give it a sculptural design. Courtesy of Surface Magazine, “The gesture of folding and welding each element gives surface effects, highlighted by the tinted and waxed edges of the leather pieces.”
The vase’s small circles of leather are joined together by hand using vegetable glue; in all, every vase is made up from roughly 400 leather petals… each one with a unique variation of the same shape, however with a particular placement. The vase is produced thanks to a collaboration between Studio Liaigre and an exceptional French workshop that usually works on haute-couture projects.
The Tray- white and lichen unbuckle trays are made from Liaigre leather and brushed nickel and taupe and taupe nubuck trays are made from Liaigre leather and black patina brass.
Image courtesy of: Wallpaper
Another piece in the collection is the Tray. Seemingly simple, the tray is composed of scraps of different colored leathers essentially stacked and assembled together. The object is held together on each end by handles made from either brushed chrome or black patina.
The tray can be used for many purposes and in many different settings including on a coffee table, an entry console, or in a closet as a jewelry tray.
The Bookend is made from slabs of waste wood set in textured bronze. Each piece is unique depending on the wood’s aging and past treatment.
Image courtesy of: Octogon
In keeping with the sustainability element, each item is shipped in recycled cardboard packaging. In addition, 50% of the collection’s profits are donated to Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France, a French charity that supports and trains work-study training in, among others, development, craft, and engineering professions.
Supporting artisans in thirty different trades is incredibly important to Liaigre. With “Upcrafted,” the studio is showing their unwavering commitment “to innovative revolutions in design.” Kudos to the esteemed French brand!
