Weavewave

Elevating a Space with Biodegradable Interior Materials

Mohamad Taufaniari (ID) x Jennifer Stewart (UK)

The quality of materials used in interior design is reflected in their environmental impact and durability. Weavewave is a statement interior design piece created by Mohamad Taufaniari and Jennifer Stewart. It is made of biodegradable materials and handwoven in Indonesia, harnessing traditional techniques and natural fibres of the Mucuna plant, Tencel, and eco-resin.

Material Research

Innovatively integrating flexible shape panels into the traditional loom handweaving, creating new patterns as weft material is forced into waves.

The Problem

Textile production is one of the biggest waste producers. There is currently an overproduction of fast fashion textile items made from non-sustainable materials. The demand for fast fashion items is also expected to grow over the next few years. Taufan and Jennifer aim to address this problem by presenting an alternative textile material for the fashion, homeware, and interior market.

Material Properties

1. Mucuna Flecks in Gelatin

The Solution

Introducing Weavewave, a statement interior design piece, handwoven in Indonesia harnessing traditional techniques and natural fibres of the Mucuna plant, Tencel, and eco-resin. Sourced in Indonesia, Mucuna is a waste by-product of the palm oil industry. Instead of being discarded after it has served its purpose, it is diverted and harvested to extract an unusual shiny fibre.

Taufan and Jennifer combined the natural golden shiny nature of the Mucuna fibre with gelatin to create a flexible material to prototype with. The design features an innovative combination of traditional weave techniques with solid panels to create an eye-catching statement talking piece for sophisticated interiors.

Material Properties:

2. Tencel/Indigo Dye

Material Properties:

3. Mokuna Weft

Prototyping

Designs are able to be repeated vertically and horizontally to create undulating lines with some variation.

The Outcome

Weavewave serves as interior partitions, flexible hanging panels for separation, or domestic screen doors as an alternative to hard surfaces, vinyl, and glass. It is lightweight and tactile and has a variety of waves and shape repeats. Through Weavewave, Taufan and Jennifer have enabled new design directions within the traditional handweaving process.

Not only does Weavewave help promote the importance of sustainability in interior design practice, but it also adds value to the local economy for workers who harvest Mucuna instead of disposing of it. In interior design, sustainability is involved in many aspects of a project in order to deliver durable, high-quality design with low environmental impact, waste and lowering pollution.
And Weavewave checks all these aspects.