In Wool We Trust

July 09, 2014

Timeless, natural and versatile, wool was put in the spotlight by students from ECAL, Lausanne at In Wool We Trust, 17 – 22 June, Design Miami/Basel 2014.

Timeless, natural and versatile, wool was put in the spotlight at ‘In Wool We Trust’, 17 – 22 June at Design Miami/Basel 2014.

The exhibition paid tribute to the many various qualities of what has to be COVER’s favourite material. It featured installations by Masters students on the Product Design course at ECAL/University of Art and Design, Lausanne, in association with The Woolmark Company and Swiss skiwear brand, Mover Sportswear who pioneered the use of wool in their technical clothing.

reScreen-Shot-2014-07-09-at-15.29.25

Metamorphosis by ECAL/Seraina Lareida. Image by ECAL/Axel Crettenand

French designers Camille Blin and Ronan Bouroullec oversaw development of the show, explain their approach -“Wool as a material is part of our everyday life. Even without a specific shape or colour, it means something to each one of us. Our task was to experiment in order to shape these sensations”

Oli Stratford of London-based design magazine, Disegno describes the outcome: “The resultant projects veer from woollen candy floss to simulated snow storms; twisting threads and wafting strands. All engage with their basic material and all are beautiful.”

Six large-scale installations reacted to the open brief to examine merino wool in a poetic and offbeat way, re-inventing the impression we have of this customary fibre. It appeared variously as a dynamic moving twine, spun sugar candy and as an incredible hanging tapestry that documents the transition of wool from sheep to fabric.

reScreen-Shot-2014-07-09-at-15.29.56

Woolcandy by ECAL/Carolien Niebling. Image by ECAL/Axel Crettenand

reScreen-Shot-2014-07-09-at-15.30.32

Threaded by ECAL/Charlotte Baverel. Image by ECAL/Axel Crettenand

reScreen-Shot-2014-07-09-at-15.48.43

Comet by ECAL/Vincent Dechelette. Image by ECAL/Axel Crettenand

reScreen-Shot-2014-07-09-at-15.31.19

Comet (detail) by ECAL/Vincent Dechelette. Image by ECAL/Axel Crettenand

ECAL, in collaboration with The Woolmark Company and Mover, presents “In Wool We Trust” from ECAL on Vimeo.

www.cover-magazine.com/subscriptions

Words by

Related Articles

Rug love

COVER selects four rugs from its 20-year-old archive that best commemorate the day of love

Design for Myriad Minds

Denna Jones looks at how rug design can impact mental health—particularly neurodiverse individuals—from stressful patterns to soothing textures and materials

Rugs in Vegas

Rachel Meek selects ten rug highlights, as seen two Las Vegas trade shows in January, that best epitomise the in-demand looks on the US West Coast this spring

Related Articles

Rug love

Rug love

COVER selects four rugs from its 20-year-old archive that best commemorate the day of love

read more
Design for Myriad Minds

Design for Myriad Minds

Denna Jones looks at how rug design can impact mental health—particularly neurodiverse individuals—from stressful patterns to soothing textures and materials

read more
Rugs in Vegas

Rugs in Vegas

Rachel Meek selects ten rug highlights, as seen two Las Vegas trade shows in January, that best epitomise the in-demand looks on the US West Coast this spring

read more