Meb Rure’s latest line of furniture is so bright, stylish and unique that it’s hard to believe they are made with almost all recycled materials.
The Istanbul-based designer uses American oak and recycled silk yarn from Nepal to weave together these kaleidoscopic, fluffy silk furniture pieces.
Comprised of a chair, stool and ottoman, Rure’s new line is cheerful without being tacky, warm without being sappy, and most of all prioritizes comfort above all else with pouffy balls filled with a luscious sponge for each seat.
Easily purchased online through her studio’s website, each piece is built with modular legs that are easily disassembled. This allows the Middle East Technical University graduate to ship the furniture without wracking up an inordinate carbon footprint.
Decidedly ethnic but still tastefully modern, Rure’s lively designs are very similar to Bokja in Beirut, except perhaps a little less carefree, and a little more precise.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Rure has been hugely successful in her short career, which essentially commenced in 2012 after she completed her industrial design studies and opened her own studio.
She has twice walked away with the IMMIB Industrial Design prize — a relatively new competition that nonetheless draws scores of talented designers across Turkey. And in 2011, she received an award from the Italian Domus Academy for her contribution to the “Fill the Future” competition.
The pieces are exceptionally well designed: solid, and attractive, they are bound to be heirlooms passed on through various generations.
But not everybody is so wealthy to spend money on a recycled silk ottoman for their tush. These alone cost €526 through the designer’s website, while the chair, a more elaborate piece that demands greater time and attention to detail, fetches a cool €1,471.
While we’re generally concerned about propagating anything that is too expensive for an ordinary person to own, since we should all have equal access to our resources (in addition to responsibility), we should note that – quite like a $20 chair from Walmart – this price tag reflects the time, effort and materials that went into it.
Visit Rure’s website for a full collection of awesome design pieces
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
awesome, very attractive and inspired design. very comfortable to put in a child’s room
Not all inexpensive products are poorly made. My parents bought furniture from Sweden when I was born, they got a good price on it because the chairs weren’t perfect.
With a bit of work, 56 years later, they look brand new.
It’s just the way people related to their belongings.
A nice way to reuse small swaths of material. Looks comfy and fun, and this could inspire ways to create poofs for kids’ rooms.