Hasta La Ideas

Amsterdam-based brand and studio Róhe Frames populated a show space with curated vintage furniture and Crafted Columns, a woven installation by artist Fransje Gimbrère, to launch its latest collection during Amsterdam Fashion Week.

The Róhe Frames exhibition took place in the Jordaan neighbourhood of central Amsterdam within a white-walled space that was largely lit by a barrel-vaulted skylight above.

Here, Róhe Frames incorporated its latest collection of trans-seasonal and knitted pieces amongst curated pieces of vintage and contemporary furniture. In the corner of the room, Dutch artist Fransje Gimbrère created a large woven installation titled Crafted Columns.

Gimbrère looked to knitting techniques to inform her design of three black-yarn volumes, crafting the handmade installation using hundreds of ropes, cords and yarns of varying thicknesses and weaves.

The yarn installation was suspended across the ceiling of the Róhe Frames space via means of hoop-shaped supports. Gimbrère wove and braided the yarn, cord and rope across the supports in order to then drape the volumes in a column-like style within the space.

Many of the vintage furniture pieces incorporated throughout the space were wrapped and upholstered in excess yarn used in Gimbrère’s installation.

“Hundreds of different cords made of natural materials create a three-dimensional play,” said the brand. “The art exhibition tells the story of a conscious and multidisciplinary approach, characteristic of Róhe.”

“Crafted Columns explores the dialog between fashion, craftsmanship, art, and collaborations in a physical space where all of these disciplines can coexist,” Rohé Frames added.

Also on show were a steel chair and bench by Dutch designer Paul Coenen, which were carefully placed between subtly waved clothing rails.

Solid wood pieces – such as a 1970s lounge chair upholstered in Icelandic sheep skins – lent by home furniture store Fundamente added a warmer touch to the space.

“Good things in life can’t be rushed, that’s why we are committed to sharing the beautiful stories of the handmade,” said Róhe Frames of the exhibition.

“By shedding light on the art of knitting, we hope to spark a deeper connection between our customers and the Róhe pieces.”

The brand also collaborated with UK-based fashion designer Amy Powell to create a line of hand-knitted garments comprised of six experimental knitted tops.

At this year’s Amsterdam Fashion Week, Francon showcased its Spring Summer 2023 collection at MVRDV’s Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen while 1/OFF presented a collection made from vintage fabrics.

Photography is by Stéphanie Oonk.

Amsterdam Fashion Week took place from 31 August to 4 September 2022 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Promotion: US designer John Vieweg aims to bring “humanity back to industrial manufacturing” in a collection of furnishings for his interior design studio Thehighkey.

Vieweg’s collection named Relief is made up of a sofa, a mirror and two wall-hung decorative pieces, which are all characterised by their rounded, soft compositions.

Vieweg’s Glove Couch was made using computer design software. Afterwards, the piece was realised in physical form by sculpting foam with a hot wire before applying it to a wooden core.

“By thickening a curved line I was able to produce this organic form that had a very human quality. It had this immediacy about it, I knew that I had to build it,” said Vieweg. “The Glove Couch encourages you to sit in its various folds, creating a condition in which you feel held.”

The couch is upholstered in a natural boucle that has a range of colour options. Custom finishes with other fabrics are available upon request.

The Dome Mirror is made up of a circular plywood border carved into concentric curved lines with a mirror mounted in the centre.

The curved shape of the frame is reinforced in the mirror, which is convex instead of flat to create a fish-eye effect in the user’s reflection.

The carvings consist of plywood that has been worked into to create undulating patterns of consecutive lines that snake from bottom to top or from side to side, which is a variation of the mirror’s decorative frame.

The pair of carvings can be hung individually or side by side to compliment one another.

Each item includes a wooden french cleat, which allows the pieces to float off of the wall, giving them the appearance of being suspended in mid-air.

“The three wall-mounted items are a natural extension of the curving motif. Each one serves as a sigil, softening the surrounding landscape for human occupation,” Vieweg explained.

“The two carvings continue the graphic treatment from the couch, while the Dome Mirror with its convex reflection reveals the entirety of the space around the viewer.”

The collection draws on the idea of relief in sculptural processes, which is the carving away of material to create softer components and rounded edges.

It encourages “physical relief” by presenting comfortable furnishings and rounded motifs that are easy on the eye.

“Historically, reliefs have been made by carving away at natural materials,” said Vieweg.

“Thehighkey puts a contemporary spin on this technique by cutting into standard industrial products such as plywood and foam.”

“[Relief] speaks to the industrial context in which it was made,” Vieweg said. “These rounded shapes are reminiscent of throwie graffiti and are the foundation of an entire graphic system, one that has become a form of expression for me.”

“These items provide relief from our complex world,” Vieweg continued.

The collection’s name comes from the aesthetic, physical and psychological meanings of the term ‘relief’. The items will be available in October to coincide with the launch of Thehighkey’s official website.

To learn more about the design studio visit Thehighkey’s Instagram here.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Thehighkey as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Different people have different ways to relieve stress or fatigue, but one of the most common methods is taking a shower or soaking in a tub. The activity is almost symbolic, like washing away the problems of life, even if only temporarily. But while the cleansing process itself might be soothing, what happens before or after can have a significant impact on the experience. Rough towels and uncomfortable bathrobes can irritate the skin and break the magic of the shower experience. Fortunately, there are creative minds that are taking a stab at fixing that problem, and this new bathrobe offers an elevated experience that will remove your stress even before you step into the shower.

Designer: K-25 Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $200 (61% off). Hurry, only 2/250 left!

It’s only too easy to take bathroom accessories for granted, especially towels and bathrobes that are so common that we don’t even give them a second thought. We spend a lot of money on soothing soaps and expensive shower heads, only to burden our skins and our bodies with low-quality bathrobes. Granted, there are luxurious towels and bathrobes available, but the fluffy ones also tend to be heavy, thick, and take too long to dry.

Sustainably Made – Made from 100% natural combed cotton. They are OEKO-Tex 100 certified, meaning tested to be free from harmful levels of chemicals.

This can end up ruining the relaxing bath or soak that you just had, especially when the bathrobe starts to stink due to prolonged dampness. Over time, the material also starts to fray and break apart, causing further discomfort and mental stress at the thought of having to buy a new bathrobe yet again. The K-25 bathrobe wants to be the only bathrobe you’ll ever want, and it does this using a design that could make you craving for waffles.

Waffle Weave Design

Rather than the typical weaves you’d see on bathrobes, the K-25 uses what it calls a waffle weave that really does look like the breakfast favorite. More than just being an unconventional design, the weave allows air to flow better, which means that the material is more breathable and dries more quickly. Thanks to this, the bathrobe can be thinner and more lightweight while still offering the same benefits as thicker cotton robes when it comes to water absorption.

The K-25 bathrobe is also innovative in the kind of cotton it uses. Instead of the typical carded, open-end cotton yarn, the K-25 uses combed, ring-spun cotton that prevents fraying and lets it retain its form far longer. The fabric is also guaranteed to be safe and sustainable, avoiding the use of harmful levels of chemicals that hurt the environment in the long run. It also has natural antibacterial properties so that you don’t have to stress over your own health.

The K-25 Bathrobe is designed to alleviate the stresses of modern times. It even has a spacious pocket so that you can conveniently carry a phone or a book with you. Available in three sizes, including a plus size, and for only $79, you can get your hands and your body on a bathrobe that can help preserve your peace of mind long after you’ve stepped out of the shower. You can even get a hold of a matching bath mat, slippers, and towels as add-ons, completing the stress-relieving shower experience you need and deserve.

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $200 (61% off). Hurry, only 2/250 left!

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The Apple Watch Ultra is the tech equivalent of “Do you even lift, bro?”

With 8 years in development, Apple has firmly cemented the Watch’s reputation as a device that saves lives. The Apple Watch isn’t just a smartwatch, it’s also an incredible medical and safety device that’s helped people in emergencies. Every year, Tim Cook even spends a few minutes on covering real-life stories of how the Watch saved its wearer’s life. The Apple Watch Ultra, however, doesn’t share that reputation. It’s built for extremes, for the ultra-human, whether they’re scaling mountains, crossing deserts, diving in oceans, or just pushing their bodies to the limit in the pursuit of a goal. In Apple’s own words, the Watch Ultra is an “essential tool for essentially anything”… but here’s the part Apple didn’t say out loud. They know that regular people will want the Watch Ultra too, just for the ability to portray themselves as limit-pushing ultra-humans. It’s the watch equivalent of owning a Peloton, having a bike mount attached to your car’s rear, or just taking gym selfies. The Watch Ultra is an exceptional device, but it’s also a status symbol of sorts for people who want to be perceived as adrenaline junkies and adventure lovers.

The Ultra suffix tells you practically everything you need to know about what this new smartwatch was made for. Apple doesn’t envision this to be the watch someone wears to the office, or an elderly person wears it to monitor their heart levels. This watch was designed absolutely push the limits of what a watch can do and endure. The watch sports a rugged titanium design that’s more resilient in inclement weather, including snowstorms, and is rated WR-100 water resistant as well as EN13319 certified, which means you can use it as a dive computer during scuba diving sessions.

The watch’s new design was made for easy operation even when you’re wearing gloves. The crown is thicker, grippier, and the power button more accessible. There’s even a new Action button on the opposite side for controlling the watch’s various ‘ultra’ activity tracking features, whether you’re competing in a triathlon, deep-sea diving, or even marking your position on the watch’s own mapping system during a trek. It sports a redesigned home screen interface, called the Wayfinder, that gives you access to all the important features you need during your activities, including a compass, GPS coordinates, altitude, and other useful metrics. The watch’s battery can last for 36 hours, although Apple claims that future updates can push this to 60 hours, so your watch aides you on your long, difficult journeys whether you’re trekking, camping, long-distance jogging, or completing a triathlon. The watch even comes with a ‘night mode’ that’s accessible simply by rotating the crown, which turns the interface minimal and red, retaining visibility while conserving battery… and an internal 86-decibel siren lets you attract attention to yourself in the event of an emergency.

The watch comes with a rugged titanium alloy construction and sports three different strap styles, an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band. The Watch Ultra by default comes with GPS and Cellular, and sports all the other features of the Series 8, including a much more advanced temperature tracker and period tracker, crash detection, international emergency calling, fall detection, and an always-on display. With all those advanced features, the Watch Ultra doesn’t come cheap. At $799, it costs as much as the iPhone 14 (yes, the new one), making it the most expensive smartwatch money can currently buy. However, for people heavily invested in an active or extreme lifestyle, this one might just be a doozy.

The post The Apple Watch Ultra is a great smartwatch, but it’s also a brilliant marketing tool. Here’s why… first appeared on Yanko Design.

If there’s one takeaway from this year’s keynote, it’s that Apple wants to make all its devices more useful in practical scenarios. With crash detection, and the unique ability to connect to satellites for SOS calls, the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro are quite literally must-haves.

It’s a simple yet BRILLIANT idea. How do you get people who’ve just spent money on an iPhone 13 to switch over to the latest model? Surely a better camera isn’t a compelling enough reason to spend $999 on a new phone… but, if Tim Cook were to say that the new iPhone can literally save your life, that becomes a stronger reason to make a switch. Moreover, it now leaves Google, Samsung, and the like scrambling, because, for the past decade, the camera seems to have been the single most important piece of hardware and software on a phone. The new iPhone 14 and 14 Pro series aren’t just good iPhones with great cameras, they’re also now the potential difference between an emergency and safety.

Before really talking about the fluff that makes the phone attractive to consumers for daily use, let’s highlight the two features that absolutely change how people perceive iPhones. Debuting both on the iPhone 14 and the Watch Series 8 at exactly the same time, the Cras Detection feature is a culmination of millions of studies on how Apple’s hardware can help detect car crashes and alert emergency services in an instant. The company had perfected fall-detection over the last few years, but ‘Crash Detection’ is an absolutely different ball game. The phone uses a high g-force accelerometer, gyroscope, sensors, microphone inputs, machine learning algorithms, and data from the Watch Series 8 (if the victim is wearing one) to detect multiple types of car crashes, including impacts on the front, side, rear, or eve barrel-rolls across different car types from smaller smart cars to large SUVs. This allows the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro to know exactly when you’ve been in a crash, notifying the authorities and emergency services in an instant. Sure, Android phones have touted car-crash-detection features in the recent past, but the iPhone 14 goes above and beyond with its next feature.

Before last year’s keynote, there was speculation that the iPhone would be getting Low Earth Orbit satellite connectivity, and with the 14 and 14 Pro, it seems like Apple’s ready to roll the feature out – well, at least initially to customers in USA and Canada. The way the phone works is pure hardware ingenuity. Unlike satellite phones that are bulky and come with a massive antenna to help you get cell coverage in areas with no infrastructure or access, the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro simply redesigned their hardware and their antennas to help the phone connect to satellites in different intuitive ways. The phone’s new interface lets you connect to a satellite simply by pointing your phone at it. The interface allows you to detect the direction of the satellite, although the caveat is that you need to be outdoors and preferably in the open with no obstacles like trees or foliage blocking the connection. Once connected, you can send texts (which are now compressed to a third of their original space for faster transmission), your location, and even make voice calls. The iPhone’s new SOS UI also allows you to pre-select the nature of your emergency and your possible surroundings, to aide better search and rescue missions. Your $799 iPhone 14 can now potentially save you from being stranded and possibly being in severe danger.

Now onto the good stuff. The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro come in regular and large sizes with different nomenclatures, strangely. The larger 14 is called the 14 Plus, but the larger 14 Pro is called the 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 14 runs on the A15 Bionic chip (something we suspected, given the chip shortage), while the new iPhone 14 Pro sports the new A16 Bionic chip (with an entire part of the chip dedicated to just the interactions around the Dynamic Island). Surprisingly enough, Apple hasn’t caved in to the EU’s demands for a USB-C iPhone, and didn’t even address it in their keynote in a way that makes me think they’re taking a rather firm stance. Other features in the new phones is their always-on display, and the ability to save battery by decreasing brightness and dramatically reducing the screen’s refresh rate down to as little as 1 Hz for a battery that literally lasts an entire day.

The new phones have better cameras too, although that isn’t really a surprise. They work remarkably well in low-light conditions, with the iPhone 14 Pro sporting what Apple calls a quad-pixel sensor for much better performance. Like the Cinematic Mode from last year’s iPhones, this year Apple unveiled an Action Mode for their cameras, that provide incredibly stable videos that almost feel like they’ve been taken using expensive cinematic rigs. The iPhone 14 Pro also offers a 2X mode that works in a unique way by simply cropping a part of the 1X mode but preserving an incredible amount of detail, thanks to that quad-pixel sensor and the 48-megapixel main camera.

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