sunbrella repurposes waste fabrics at dutch design week eindhoven 2019

beauty and functionality have always been the two metaphorical yarns weaved together for every textile product from sunbrella – a leading provider of premium fabrics for indoor and outdoor upholstery. however, now, the brand’s new sustainability missions add another key ingredient to the mix. at dutch design week eindhoven 2019, this initiative takes another step forward thanks to a creative collaboration with french craft designer wendy andreu from 19 – 27 october. both boldly informative and patterned, the unique installation showcases how sunbrella’s waste can be reinterpreted into fun, functional and stylish solutions that are sustainable.

above: wendy andreu’s sustainable composite from ‘hard selvedges’
(main image: ‘energy and nature’ by sunbrella with liz collins during milan design week 2019)
all images courtesy of sunbrella

titled ‘hard selvedges’ after the edge of a fabric that prevents unravelling, sunbrella’s exhibition at dutch design week eindhoven 2019 is an integrative partnership between the brand and wendy andreu. normally their products are made with a solution dyed acrylic that ensures they deliver resistant and long-lasting colors. however, the french craft designer recognized that their water repellent resin coating sometimes prevents recyclability and so results in waste being burnt. in response, she developed a new technique that creates a strong versatile substance that is not only aesthetically pleasing and multi-purposeful but also adds a new level of sustainability to sunbrella’s fabrics.

the repurposed material create new products of unique color and patterns

as visitors walk into the exhibition, they are guided through a step-by-step presentation of the design process, from the start of the waste selvedges through to the applications of the final product. the experiment uses the discarded fibers as a raw material, combining it with a water-based, solvent-free acrylic resin. the result is a new composite material that is adaptable for many functions as it can be poured into molds, cover a pre-existing shape, or mixed with other mediums to produce unique textures. each composite reveals its own individual design as it is interwoven from a unique bundle of differently colored and pattern waste fabrics.

wendy andreu’s sustainable composite are made from sunbrella’s waste fabrics

complementing the installation as well as sunbrella’s sustainability mission as a whole, a selection of vibrant wall coverings created by liz collins will be on display throughout the space. after its debut at milan design week 2019, the fabrics further illustrate the creative and beautiful repurposing of the brand’s waste materials. the original immersive experience welcomed visitors into three spaces with brilliantly colorful, recycled fabrics, alongside lamps and furnishings from ligne roset. these rooms ranged from one depicting mountain peaks, another with fur wall coverings, and finally a light room. each area played on the theme of ‘energy and nature’, and now, ‘hard selvedges’ continues to show how sustainability can be bright, fun and premium.

wendy andreu combines discarded fibers with a water-based, solvent-free acrylic resin

all elements of ‘hard selvedges’ highlight sunbrella’s continued commitment to bettering ecological challenges with its products, their life-cycle, and manufacturing methods. it follows their renaissance yarn program – implemented by glen raven and its european factory dickson constant – which introduced a fabric made up of 50% recycled sunbrella waste fibers. just like the artistic interpretations, these innovations show how repurposing can create materials with added character. they open up numerous creative, unique possibilities that not only repurpose waste but introduces sustainable products. as the fabric provider’s products are used more and more extensively across the globe, sunbrella are ensuring sustainability will be interwoven with their renowned beauty and function in the future.

the french craft designer at work