Many of you will be familiar with Bemz as the company that will make new covers to fit your Ikea furniture so you can bring a little more individuality to your purchase. It’s such a clever idea and one of those things that has me gnashing my teeth in a sort of wish-I’d-thought-of-that-kind-of-way.
Sadly that big idea was not to be mine. Nor the one where you can customise your kitchen cupboards and handles. That belongs to Superfront. Nor the one where you can buy new legs for the furniture. That will be Pretty Pegs. And that’s probably all the options there are other than just to go to a different shop altogether. It’s extraordinary, when you think about it, that you can buy any item of furniture you need for your home from this one shop and then completely redesign it.
Anyway, as I was saying, Bemz…. well they have a new collection out which is launching at tomorrow’s Maison & Objet show in Paris. If you’re visiting then do go and have a touch and a feel and report back.
The new collection, Respect, is created entirely from offcuts from the fashion industry and manufactured without dyes or water to minimise the environmental impact. Another great idea that I didn’t have…
There are six fabrics in the initial collection but the company plans to expand that as it goes along. A spokesman for Bemz said: “This is something we have wanted to do for a long time but the technology wasn’t up to speed to ensure the level of quality required for furniture fabric was met.
“So far the colours are quite neutral which is based on what is most popular with customers right now. There is, however, a lovely texture to the Brunna fabrics as well as a handsome herringbone.”
But she acknowledged that much of original Bemz range, which has some 250 different materials, is quite vibrant and added that the plan is to increase the fabrics in the new range quite fast including some more colourful options which are currently under discussion.
The material is 80 per cent recycled cotton and 20 per cent recycled polyester (made from plastic bottles). The polyester is there to add strength as the cotton on its own isn’t strong enough for the end product.
Respect to Bemz I say. What do you think? The collection will be available to buy in February.
