T Magazine: Women Chart the Trajectory of Knoll Textiles

Why would you think less of what’s upholstering your chair than what’s upholstering your person?

“Knoll Textiles, 1945-2010,” at the Bard Graduate Center in Manhattan from May 18 to July 31, flips the story line on the brand’s famous chairs (Womb, Tulip, Diamond, Platner) by focusing on the fabrics rather than the frames.”

The story also points to the strong role women played in changing the aesthetics of upholstery in contemporary design.  This tradition continues to this day at Knoll Textiles under the direction of Dorothy Cosonas.  These days fashion labels (Proenza Schouler, Rodarte) inform aesthetics.  The result is ground-breaking movement forward in design keeping the right question at the top of the discussion:  Why would you think less of what’s upholstering your chair than what’s upholstering your person?

Click the photo above to read the complete article.

Tags: Bard Graduate Center, Chair, Contemporary, Florence Knoll fabric, Furniture, Knoll, knoll textiles, mid-century, new york times, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, T Magazine, Upholstery, women