2023 Edition

During a study of yarns for constructive knits, textile designer Marieke van Heck came across recycled p.e.t. yarn, used predominantly in the rope industry. Marieke has investigated the possibilities of this durable material and shows that recycled p.e.t. yarn can be applied innovatively, both in terms of design as well as manufacturing techniques. The combination of p.e.t. yarn with rattan results in brilliant objects: sustainable, circular, and of a timeless aesthetic.

Material: strong and durable
Recycled p.e.t. yarn is extremely strong and wear-resistant. These properties make the material very suitable for ropes and seat belts, products for which it is mainly used. In addition, the yarn is sustainable – it can be recycled time after time – and has a subtle sheen.

Rattan is also versatile and durable. It grows quickly and is recyclable. It is also lightweight, bendable and very strong. Rattan is ideal for combinations with other materials, such as the recycled p.e.t. yarn that Marieke has used.

Modular, circular ‍
Marieke looked primarily at the materials themselves: their specific qualities and the ways in which they could be connected. She examined both the constructive and decorative properties and developed a modular system where the elements could be used in varying compositions, where they can be replaced or separated from each other for reuse. So not only the materials used are circular, but the manufacturing technique is as well.

Constructive cloth
For this modular system, Marieke developed a constructive cloth with tunnels. Since p.e.t. yarn itself does not stretch at all, she chose to knit it, which manages to give the material a slight stretch. This makes it possible to create tension in the cloth used for the construction of the objects. The knitted pattern emphasizes the tunnels, the material itself gives the knit a subtle shine.

The rattan is steamed and bent into a U-shape, which also creates a tension in the material. By sliding the rattan uprights into the tunnels, the cloth connects the rattan elements to each other, whereby the pressure of the uprights is absorbed by the tensile force in the cloth. As a result, the materials themselves form the construction: no screw or glue is involved. The rattan elements together form a beautiful graphic pattern.

Objects ‍
The modular system offers a wide range of possibilities. To make this apparent, Marieke developed two different concrete objects – a screen and a round object – in which the cloths made of recycled p.e.t. are literally interwoven with the U-shaped rattan uprights.

Both objects have a twofold function. The screen can stand or hang, with the materials themselves forming the hinges. The colour gradients in the strips subtly ntuate these construction points. The standing model – designed here as a folding screen – can be extended endlessly by adding uprights, allowing it to slither through the room like a snake. The hanging model can fluctuate in width by adding or omitting knitted strips.

The round object is created by placing the uprights in a circle. Putting light in the inner circle creates a lamp, the light shining through both above and below the canvas of the outer circle. Instead of light, a top made of recycled acrylic can be added, making the object a table.

Marieke shows that an entirely new image can be created with these materials, the aesthetics resulting from both the construction and the material itself.