Comforting and cosy with a mid-century feel, it's no wonder that bouclé, a durable, textured fabric, has been on trend for a while. The trendy material however, has been around for a long time. Stemming from the American interior designer Florence Knoll, the initiator of the bouclé sofa. Elle Decoration traced back the origins of the popular bouclé fabric and investigates its revival.
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The term 'bouclé' originates from the French word for 'curl' or 'loop', initially describing a yarn, typically wool, characterised by small loops. These loops, when woven, give the fabric a soft, textured, and substantial feel.
In the mid-1940s, Florence Knoll collaborated with Eero Saarinen, a childhood friend and frequent collaborator. She asked him to design a chair that was more inviting than 'a basket full of pillows' and something to 'curl up in'. The result was the 'Womb' chair, upholstered in Knoll's 'Classic Bouclé.'
Given the enduring appeal of mid-century design, it's no surprise that bouclé has made a comeback. Over the past five years, luxury textile company Dedar launched a collection featuring this tactile fabric, and designers like Levi Christiansen, Royal Stranger, and Raf Simons for Kvadrat have incorporated it into their furniture lines. Bouclé adds texture, visual interest, and comfort to interiors, contributing to its lasting popularity.
Source: www.elledecoration.co.uk