Mariekke Jansen

Overview

Mariekke Jansen’s playful use of woolen materials merges with her love for textile crafts. Her work revolves around wool waste. She experiments with different techniques such as tufting and felting and through this unique way of using wool, Mariekke creates recognizable, unique armchairs.

Mariekke Jansen graduated from the school of arts in the Netherlands (HKU). After graduating she wanted to create a new ‘classic’, a lounge chair that would later be considered iconic for this era and innovative. This task seemed extremely challenging because the classics of today are exceptionally well-made, often looking untouched even after many years. However, what often goes wrong is the foam cushions used in the furniture. After about 10 to 15 years, they crumble and need to be replaced.

By the end of 2022, everything came together in one sketch: a lounge chair made from waste, meant to last a lifetime and be circular. A wool lounge chair. In the Netherlands, wool has become a waste product because the quality is not good enough for the fashion industry. Wool lasts a lifetime and provides the perfect softness for a chair. To put the wool under tension, similar to what is done with woolen mattresses, she came up with a knot. A cover made of felted wool, filled with only washed wool, which is then folded together, creating tension on the wool on the inside. You can fill the wool in such a way that the back rest is firm and the seat is soft.

This model with Mariekke's unique folded method is inspired by autumn. Nature goes into dormancy, which is reflected in the simple structure and the color of the woolen threads. With this lounge chair you create your ideal seating comfort.

View artist website

Works