PURE & SIMPLE

Raf Simons and Kvadrat launch a Shaker-inspired accessories collection

- TF CHAN

In the eight years since Kvadrat and Raf Simons joined forces to develop an upholstery range (see W*180), their luscious fabrics have gained near-mythical status. New launches are always greeted with fervor at design fairs, and tote bags made from the fabrics and offered to a select few on these occasions have become collectibles among those in the know. Thus the arrival of a Kvadrat/Raf Simons accessories collection this August is destined to be welcomed with open arms: so confident is the Danish textile brand in this collection's success that they are breaking from tradition to open a dedicated accessories store in Copenhagen.

The collection comprises cushions, throws, a tote bag and a shopping bag, as well as a small tray, an accessory box, a magazine holder, a sleeve, a cap, and two key chains the last three marking a departure from Kvadrat's long-standing focus on the home. Most are made from Vidar 4, a tightly woven fabric from the Kvadrat/Raf Simons range with a gentle satin surface finish (it 'gives a sense of artistry that does not feel industrial, says Simons), while a handful incorporates leather. Uniting these items is what Kvadrat and Simons refer to as a 'Shaker System': a horizontal bar based on the peg rail used by Shakers, a Protestant religious group 1 known for its distinctive, minimalist designs.