Bondage details feature on Boudoir Fétiche furniture by ECAL graduate Savvas Laz
The tassels and straps of spanking tools and fetish wear inspired this mirror and valet stand, designed by ECAL graduate Savvas Laz.
Laz created the Boudoir Fétiche furniture while studying on the Design for Luxury and Craftsmanship masters course at the Swiss university.
The designer borrowed elements from whips and crops for the mirror, which is half covered in a textured leather fringe. It is suspended between the ceiling and a stone base using buckles and cords, very similar to those used in bondage practices.
"The first thing that intrigued me was the sense of touching, a sense that is very connected with the world of fetishism," Laz told Dezeen.
"This led me to create a texture or a textile, something that you can touch and feel."
The valet stand is designed to help a user transition from "the outer, social outfit to the fetish and sexual one".
It echoes the round shape of the mirror, with a single metal ring divided by a bar that offers space to hang clothes and other items.
Laz sees both pieces as a way of linking the fetish and luxury industries together, and showing the craftsmanship the two worlds have in common.
"At first look they seem quite disconnected and pretty far from each other," he said. "On one hand there is the world of fetishism which is more dark, underground and 'dirty', and on the other the glossy world of luxury."
"For centuries both worlds have been preserving and developing craft secrets and techniques, and I felt they could develop an interesting dialogue if they come together," he continued.
"I believe that sexuality in general and fetishism in particular are subjects that the design community should start to freely discuss and talk about."
In an opinion piece for Dezeen, critic Sam Jacob suggested that the world of kink and fetish has "much to teach mainstream design culture".
Laz isn't the only designer to use this area as the starting point for a furniture project. Swedish studio Färg & Blanche looked to bondage when designing its Succession mirrors, which are housed in criss-crossed surrounds created by binding leather with ropes.
Photography is by Savvas Laz.