white bouclé. for years it’s been impossible to imagine furniture collections and interior magazines without it. on instagram it’s the wild interior dream of the “vanilla” generation and at antiques and vintage fairs sometimes it feels as if a flock of sheep has strayed into the exhibition halls: every second dealer shows (more or less vintage) furniture reupholstered in white bouclé, regardless of authenticity – it just sells pretty well.
bouclé is a fabric woven of a “looped yarn”, giving it a curly, soft, and somewhat rustic look and feel. some may remember the plush and teddy fabrics of their beloved children’s toys or mama’s luxurious chanel twinset. the first use as a furniture upholstery fabric can probably be attributed to eero saarinen’s “womb chair”, which he designed for knoll in 1946. also, vintage pieces often are described as “in the style of jean royere” – one of the most outstanding french designers, who often used ivory white bouclé for a fresh look in contrast to darker wood. bouclé made its first comeback in the seventies and a second one in the first decade of the millennium, when original royere sofa sets went at auction for a million dollars. today, white bouclé is the neutral choice for neutral people.
it may be cozy and comfortable, but also a bit overwhelming in its omnipresence.
when someone in the interior business says: “it has now reached the masses and we believe it’s here to stay” – that’s the moment you should think about other options. good interior design is the exact opposite: it’s about the expression of personality. especially with vintage design, we are always up for vibrant colors, unusual color combinations and quirky patterns. and since this is advertising, of course, have a look here, here, here or here at what we recommend in luxurious fabric.
