Maison&Objet 2015: Swedish company Bolon has launched a range of woven flooring that interprets Missoni's classic zigzag pattern.
The flooring, named Zigzag, is part of Bolon's second collection with Missoni, the Italian fashion house known for its brightly patterned knitwear.
Missoni started in the 1950s making tracksuits in a small workshop in Gallarate, before moving into knitwear and launching its signature zigzag weave pattern in 1962.
Bolon has now added flooring to the list of accessories, swimwear, homeware and fragrances all adorned with the colourful chevrons, which are created using a complex weave.
The Missoni pattern – consisting of finely woven yarns – is mounted onto to PVC backing to create the carpet.
Zigzag is available in black, sand, aubergine and cyan. The 2015 Bolon by Missoni collection also includes a pattern called Patch and updates of the Optical and Flame designs launched in 2012, all based on tonal variations of classic Missoni designs featuring interlocking strips of colour.
The new collection will launch at the Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris, taking place from 23 to 27 January. Missoni also used the flooring for their catwalk during Milan Fashion Week 2014.
Bolon began working with Italian brand in 2012, during Milan's Salone Internazionale del Mobile furniture fair.
Following a meeting with Rosita Missoni, to which Bolon directors Marie and Annica Eklund brought their mother along, it became apparent that the two three-generation family-run businesses had similar values.
"There are a lot of similarities between our two companies; both Bolon and Missoni are strong family businesses and entrepreneurs with our own production lines in our respective countries," said creative director Marie Eklund.
"We have both strong experience and knowledge of woven materials," added her sister, CEO Annica Eklund.
Like Missoni – whose entire production process from spinning to dyeing is carried out in Varese, Italy – Bolon flooring is made entirely in Sweden from its headquarters in Ulricehamn.
The headquarters comprise of offices and facilities for the 90 Bolon staff, including a recently appointed in-house designer, a factory that does everything from producing raw materials to packaging the flooring tiles into cardboard boxes, and a warehouse to hold stock.
The Bolon factory has 12 looms, three of which are jacquard looms that can raise the warp thread independently of others. These more-complex machines are used to make the Bolon by Missoni collection.
The most recent addition to the company's base is a new recycling plant, which not only recycles waste from the production process but also reuses by-products from other industries. The recycled material produced is then turned into the PVC backing for the flooring.
Bolon's projects extend further than flooring; the Eklund sisters are currently working on a cookbook of recipes by their chef, Patrick, and are exploring opening a chain of Swedish hotels. This idea was born from the success of the Bolon House, a lakeside retreat that the company use to host clients and hold staff workshops.