With the launch of the Vitra Home Selection, furniture manufacturer Vitra adds a range of new fabric collections to its offering. The collection includes bouclé, velour and corduroy in vibrant colourways, selected from the renowned collections of Kvadrat and Italian family-owned company Dedar. In an exclusive interview, Caterina and Raffaele Fabrizio, CEO and creative director of Dedar respectively, talk about their vision, the genesis of the collaboration with Vitra and the power of textiles as a means of expression.
© Vitra
An encounter with lasting impression
The connection with Vitra arose years ago, when Raffaele visited the Vitra Campus as a young architecture student. 'For young architects, it was like entering a dream,' Raffaele recalls. Years later, a meeting with Vitra's creative director Till Weber led to the tentative start of a collaboration. 'He said to me: "You manage to be decorative without looking forced." That stuck.'
Milanese roots and a new sound
Dedar was founded in 1976, in the midst of the vibrant and experimental Milan of the 1970s. 'We wanted to design textiles that were different from traditional floral and baroque patterns,' says Caterina. 'There was a feeling in the air that beauty could also be light and unexpected.' That drive for innovation still forms the brand's DNA.
Textiles as an architectural and emotional medium
At Dedar, textiles are not seen as purely decorative, but as something that actively shapes space. 'We always saw textiles as an expressive material,' says Raffaele. 'It has function, emotion and an architectural presence.' This is reflected in their design approach: everything is developed in-house, with great attention to yarns, weaving techniques and material behaviour.
© Vitra
Colour, texture and imagination
Dedar is known for its distinct colour palette, often inspired more by fashion than interior design. 'Colour is an adventure for us,' says Caterina. Their iconic velour collections in cotton, silk or wool are another trademark. Fabrics like Margaritas, 'inspired by the feeling of lying in a field of flowers,' and Tiger Mountain, a jacquard velour with references to Tibetan rugs from their childhood, show their poetic and artistic approach.
Crafts in the Como region
Some 75% of production takes place in Italy, mainly around Como, in collaboration with specialised artisans. 'From yarn dyeing to embroidery and moiré weaving - every detail counts,' says Caterina. Handicrafts from France and India are also involved to incorporate unique techniques into the collections.
Collaboration with Vitra: character and customisation
Dedar fabrics are an important complement to Vitra's furniture. Combining characterful materials with iconic design creates a personal signature. 'A Prouvé chair in a cobalt blue bouclé? That's pure expression,' says Caterina. Raffaele adds: 'Choosing the right fabric is already a form of personalisation. Sometimes a customer asks for a specific technical adaptation, such as fire resistance - then we completely redevelop the fabric.'
Future-oriented tradition
Although Dedar is firmly rooted in the Italian textile tradition, they continue to innovate themselves. 'We are at the intersection of heritage and modernity,' says Caterina. 'Our fabrics help designers interpret historical spaces with a fresh perspective.'
Read Vitra's full article here.