Lo-fi-loving Gen Ys are on a mission to simplify and streamline, as evidenced by their devotion to
digital detoxing and their elevation of
ordinary materials in place of high-tech supplies. In a similar spirit, modern designers have adopted origami as their latest vintage inspiration. Recently, we’ve spotted the elegant lines and angularity of this ancient paper art in areas from publishing to furnishings to fashion.
Foldschool: A benchmark of
DIY design, this online “shop” features free furniture patterns that users can download and print to build their own
stool,
chair or
rocker out of cardboard. A simple process of cutting, folding, and gluing produces
sturdy furnishings that evoke the clean, angular shape of a classic
paper crane. Completed pieces are not available for prefab purchase, as Foldschool founder
Nicola Stäubli maintains that handcrafting boosts accessibility and inspires a pride of craftsmanship—an increasingly rare sensation in our screen-obsessed world. But for the tactile-averse, a range of ready-made origami-inspired designs have
flooded the market.
Flux chairs, for example, come together in
three simple steps.
Lisa Rietz: The inspiration behind Portland fashion designer Lisa Rietz’s
latest collection is unmistakable: flat planes, soft points, and unexpected tucks and flares all suggest the definitive forms of origami. Unlike most theatrical fashions, Rietz’s clothes don’t require the wearer to stir at all in order to conjure up a sense of drama. She styles fabric to imply movement on its own (for example, picture the way the fabric of a dress responds when a wearer rushes forward, jumps or twirls).
Cool Hunting recently likened the dynamic pieces to
wearable sculpture. Ready-to-wear and made-to-order items from the collection can be purchased through Rietz’s
Etsy shop.
The Slant: The latest issue of this edgy ’zine makes a convincing case for the staying power of print. Now available
online ($36), the volume arrives encased in a double-sided poster that must be methodically unfolded before the magazine is discovered within. A mesmerizing
video shows the method behind
The Slant’s madness—as the casing is unwrapped corner by corner, content is gradually uncovered as the issue reveals. Tactics like this, which are specific to printed publications, are likely to become a mainstay of the publishing industry as print enthusiasts explore ways to make hard copies more desirable—particularly to a generation that
values the cloud above all.
