Bolon to unveil experimental new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week 2017

In the next instalment from our Bolon at Heart video series, Bolon directors Marie and Annica Eklund reveal how the Swedish brand is expanding beyond vinyl flooring with a collection of rugs that incorporate other fibres.

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
Bolon will launch two rug designs during Stockholm Design Week 2017

Bolon is famous for producing woven flooring for the contract market, but this week the brand unveils a collection of rugs combining a range of different materials.

"We have started weaving other fibres together with our vinyl," creative director Marie Eklund explains in the movie. "It's a new possibility to create completely new things."

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
The Duet rug design combines vinyl thread with wool

Bolon will present two rug designs during Stockholm Design Week 2017 as part of an exhibition called Innovators at Heart, which is showcasing a series experiments and collaborations with other design studios and brands.

Duet comprises wool woven together with vinyl threads, while Villa La Madonna – which shares a name with the boutique hotel in Italy it was originally designed for – features glittery bands of metalised polyester.

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
The Villa La Madonna rug design bands of metalised polyester

"We wanted a softer look, something that felt a bit more cosy," explains Bolon designer Klara Persson.

"We have worked with wool and a lot of glimmering yarns."

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
Bolon wanted to use softer, more tactile materials

Fellow design Petra Lundblad adds: "When it comes out of the looms it's actually a really beautiful textile. By keeping the vinyl threads we keep the look that makes it a Bolon product."

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
Bolon is famous for creating vinyl flooring, but now it is experimenting with other materials

The new rug collection marks the start of a new direction for Bolon, which is exploring how it can expand its product range beyond flooring to include interior and product design.

Dezeen will be documenting the developments over the coming months in subsequent videos in our Bolon at Heart series.

Bolon to launch new rug collection at Stockholm Design Week
The launch of the rugs marks a new direction for Bolon

"I have never seen something like this on the market, so it is something that makes me feel extremely proud of what we have created," Eklund says.

"The material in the rugs is just the beginning of something very big for Bolon's future."

Bolon directors Marie and Annica Eklund
Bolon directors Marie and Annica Eklund

This movie was filmed by Dezeen for Bolon in Ulricehamn, Sweden. All photography used in this story is by Dezeen. Music is by Tobias Lindén of Fry Communications.

This movie is the fourth in a 12-part series exploring Bolon's history, design and technology as well as documenting its new product launches in 2017.

Watch all the movies at: www.dezeen.com/bolonatheart

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