Somewhere El-S celebrates Philippe Starck’s 30-year collaboration with Cassina. The seating collection exhibits the finely tailored details typical of high fashion, applied to the design of three ottomans – two square and one rectangular, that can also be used as daybeds, with or without backrest – and an armchair, available in the same number of types. These objects suggest multiple influences that, in their uniqueness, at times allude to a handbag or a suitcase and other times to a gift-wrapped package. But one feature remains constant, the artisan-crafted closure with the addition of metal elements, inspired by the world of saddlery. On the armchair, this detail is found on the front while, on the ottomans, it is placed on two sides. The latter are also available in an all-leather version.
The upholstery is available in two materials: a type of leather with a very thick grain, in three colours, or in solid natural or black colour fabric, or fabric with an ethnic motif custom-designed by Philippe Starck. Padding for the seat and armrests is made of circular materials, like variable density polyurethane foam with a percentage of polyols derived from biological sources, encased in blown recycled PET fibre. The collection can be completely disassembled to facilitate recycling and recovery of the materials at the end of the products’ life cycles.