Living in a material world

Creating a buzz

The handbag made from 99% air that was created by up-and-coming fashion house Coperni has certainly created a buzz, with the brand proudly explaining that the material from which it is crafted was originally invented by NASA to collect stardust. It’s unquestionably the perfect material for shaping the story of an accessory that is a brilliant marketing invention. Advertised with a cheeky price tag of €12,000, this highly Instagrammable creation is exceptionally fragile and virtually unusable. Yet there’s no denying that the material the US space agency invented is certainly something special, as it has been cleverly put to use in a number of other ways, albeit ones that bring us back down to earth with a bang. For several decades, silica aerogel has, for example, been renowned for providing excellent insulation. “It’s the best insulation in the world”, confirms Quentin Hirsinger.

Behind the scene of materiO

In some ways, the story of the Coperni bag and silica aerogel only serves to further reinforce what Hirsinger’s Paris-based Material Library is all about. The world's thinnest paper, items  made from 3D-printed sand, biodegradable and edible plastics, soft wood-veneered leather, polymers derived from research on eel mucous... The Material Library, which was first set up at the turn of the Millennium and is now present across the world and online, gives creatives, designers, architects and interior designers the opportunity to discover, examine and touch materials that are chosen simply because they’re so thoroughly unique. Uniquely innovative, uniquely versatile, uniquely composed and uniquely manufactured. There is no indication, however, of how each material is intended to be used. You will find nothing to tell you that silica aerogel can make super-insulating glass bricks, for example   which is precisely what Swiss researchers have done  , and certainly nothing suggesting that it could be used to make an excessively pricey version of a sellout bag, as with Coperni’s somewhat controversial creation. “The aim of MatériO isn’t to show you the most suitable material for a specific project. It’s simply to open your chakras to the huge range of options that are out there. The idea is for people to be able to pick and choose whatever piques their interest”, explains Hirsinger. Around 10,000 datasheets covering 10,000 different semi-finished and finished materials can be perused at leisure. All the innovative, quirky, unusual and exceptional creations were initially found at specialist events, such as Batimat, the construction industry trade fair; K in Dusseldorf, the world's leading trade fair for plastics and polymers; and Milipol, the trade fair for homeland security, each of which was visited with wide open chakras, of course.

Material innovation is becoming increasingly high-tech, not to mention increasingly eco-responsible. At each edition of Maison&Objet, Future on Stage, the award that was launched to provide a springboard for up-and-coming decoration, design and lifestyle brands, highlights the importance of current research into eco-materials and the emergence of these inspiring new creations. One of the most recent recipients of the award was newcomer Anga, whose imitation marble made from plastic waste can be machined into furniture, objects and wall coverings. SoftSurface™ from Le Pavé, meanwhile, is a multi-purpose material made from 100% recycled plastic collected in France. Pierreplume designs acoustic materials made from recycled textiles for use in architecture and design. Each of their materials is made from over 70% recycled fibres recovered from the manufacturing and clothing industries. Ostrea, meanwhile, uses shells to imitate natural stone.

At September’s trade fair, the ‘Projects’ sector  will give interior planners, architects and interior designers an exciting opportunity to discover numerous innovative materials, and notably wall and floor coverings. Exclusively, discover the Eco-Materials Corner: the brand new space where you can meet manufacturers of eco-friendly materials that will enable you to combine creativity and ecological values in your design projects. With Precious Matters, regular exhibitor

materiO will advocate for a more reasoned use of materials by helping people understand that all materials are precious, irrespective of whether they are rare or expensive, and that each one should be used and even re-used intelligently and sparingly. The Eco-responsible Design Collective will offer a carefully curated and representative space for manufacturers to showcase their eco-responsible materials and coverings for use in interior design, decoration and furniture design. As well as highlighting their expertise, the space will shine a light on products that are currently breaking the mould, including paper made from linen, imitation leather made from mango, panels made from brewers’ spent grain or cocoa husks, slabs made from recycled fishing net yarns, and tiles made from marine sediment. Proof itself that exciting and appealing materials can be created without having to reach for the stars.