Sustainable design often struggles with branding more than ethics or materials. Too often, responsible production is wrapped in jargon that feels more like a lecture than inspiration. Enter the Alice Stool by Studio LoopLoop, showcased at Milan Design Week’s Alcova, capturing attention with its bouquet of pastel pompoms on a base of recycled cylinders. It’s a quiet yet striking statement in sustainable design.
Studio LoopLoop, established in 2022 by Odin Visser and Charles Gateau, operates at the intersection of a science lab and a design studio. Their hands-on approach is evident in the Alice Stool, which defies traditional sustainable furniture aesthetics. Instead of outsourcing, they focus on developing their own processes to create singular pieces.
The stool’s base is crafted from 100% recycled aluminum, using Hydro 100R extrusions. The studio’s unique plant-based anodizing technique results in gentle color gradients—from sage to plum to yellow—achieved without petrochemical dyes. The plush seat features Savian by Bio-Fluff, a plant-based faux fur dyed with NIG natural pigments, inviting touch and interaction with surprising tactility.
Rethinking sustainable pleasure
The Alcova exhibition “Alice Atomicus” plays on Carroll’s whimsical world, remaking material ingenuity into something unexpected. Here, sustainability marries playfulness and artistry, shedding austere packaging for desirability.
Studio LoopLoop successfully tackles a complex emotional puzzle: making sustainability appealing rather than obligatory. The Alice Stool exemplifies how circular design can be chosen with enthusiasm—not just correctness—via its beauty.
Bio-Fluff’s material Savian transitioned from fashion into furniture, having highlighted luxury brands like Louis Vuitton. On the Alice Stool, it offers a plushness not typically found in synthetic faux furs, signifying potential in new domains. Hand-dyed variations ensure each stool remains unique, contrasting with cooler metal tones.
Discover how minimalism meets sustainability in Vestre’s June Bench, a prime example of thoughtful, eco-conscious design.
Handcrafted uniqueness in a mass world
With attention on handcrafted aesthetics versus mass production, the Alice Stool resonates by incorporating human touch. Its tactile generosity, along with color gradation and natural dye unpredictability, prioritizes attentiveness over industriousness.
Studio LoopLoop may be young in the design world, but it champions clear, innovative visions. The Alice Stool, a fully realized object, challenges the notion that sustainability cannot be lively or visually exciting. It boldly states that doing right by the planet doesn’t have to come at the cost of creativity.
Aluminum’s creative potential is further explored in DEOS Architecture’s chunky seating, where materials drive innovative design stories.
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Source: yankodesign.com