FASHION AND FURNITURE

The use of paper as a medium in fashion stems from a millennia-old tradition. Washi paper had been produced in Japan since the 6th century from long, interwoven plant fibers, which, through artisanal techniques, gave it both exceptional flexibility and strength. At the turn of the 20th century, after many decades of using paper as a medium for calligraphy and the dissemination of various texts, paper began to enter the realm of fashion, transforming into a material for artistic expression within the field of design. Integrating paper as a fashion medium allowed for the creation of unique garments, such as hats and costumes. Other productions, such as leather goods, also turned to paper in the manufacture of new fashion objects, such as wallets, designed to stylistically hold various papers.

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Often perceived as a fragile material, paper is now used in design to create furniture that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Through ingenious techniques such as folding and assembling cardboard tubes, paper can become durable, enabling original creations while offering a promising ecological alternative. It allows for the replacement of more polluting materials, such as plastic or metal, which have a larger environmental footprint. However, this adaptation of paper to furniture applications had already begun to take root in design practices by the end of the 19th century.

Les Patrons Favoris, DEMUYLDER L., Costumes: The French Luxury Edition / Éditions et publications de La mode nationale, Paris, Éditions et publications de La mode nationale, 1928