Overview
Royal College of Art graduate Oliver Stiff has developed a collection of sculptural furniture pieces, identified as "fashion furniture." This initiative specifically aims to integrate the "language, attitude and materials of fashion design into furniture." The recent collection features the Hurmull Chair, a corresponding Side Table set, and the Socialite Chair. A defining characteristic of this work is the utilization of deadstock fabrics provided by Vivienne Westwood.
Approach
The design approach centers on transforming deadstock materials into functional furniture. Specifically, the Socialite Chair was constructed using these donated deadstock fabrics. This method represents an effort to apply textile resources and design principles typically associated with fashion into the realm of furniture design, as articulated by the designer's stated goal to "bring the language, attitude and materials of fashion design into furniture."
Findings
Oliver Stiff, a London-based designer, has successfully produced several furniture pieces that embody the intersection of fashion and furniture design. The collection includes the Hurmull Chair, the Side Table set, and the Socialite Chair. These pieces represent a tangible outcome of the design philosophy to incorporate fashion elements into furniture. The Socialite Chair, in particular, was created directly from deadstock fabrics received from Vivienne Westwood.
Why This Matters
This work exemplifies a practical application of fashion industry waste — deadstock fabrics from Vivienne Westwood — into new product categories. It demonstrates a design approach that bridges two distinct creative fields, furniture and fashion, by integrating material resources and aesthetic principles from one into the other.