Marta Bakowski
Born in Paris in 1986, Marta Bakowski studied design at Central Saint Martins College, before graduating from the Royal College of Arts. Two years with Hella Jongerius completed her training, prompting the young designer to set up her own studio in 2013 in Paris.
Her collaborations include La Chance, Ligne Roset and Roche Bobois. For La Chance, she designed an ottoman, Hopi, presented this year at Private Choice.
In Amerindian culture, Kachina is the spirit of a divinity, representing a natural element, an animal or an ancestor. Kashina dolls originated with the HOPI tribe, the first native people to create them. Given to Hopi children during ceremonies, Kachina dolls were originally designed to educate them and help them learn about the spirits. It was these beautifully crafted dolls, carved from wood and adorned with highly graphic polychrome motifs, that inspired the silhouette and textile design of the seat.
Another aspect of the ottoman is the choice of textile technique. Designed in 3D technical knit, originally intended for sneakers, the fabric is produced from a digital file, in one go and without seams, with volume decorative elements with a quilted effect. In the design, each little chevron was considered a pixel, creating vibrant pattern combinations echoing the Hopi aesthetic, often rectlilinear, with a treatment reminiscent of arcade games. The embroidered details that punctuate the seat, like its marble base punctuated by engravings, give it a precious appearance.