Kvadrat launches –
Sisu by Nanna Ditzel and Danh Vo
This fall, Kvadrat explores the intersection of timeless Danish design, contemporary culture, and storytelling with the launch of the vibrant upholstery textile Sisu. Originally designed by the visionary designer Nanna Ditzel in the 1960s, the textile is curated with a contemporary eye by the artist Danh Vo who discovered it in the Kvadrat archives and chose it for ‘Take My Breath Away’, an exhibition at Denmark’s National Gallery (SMK).
Sisu represents an anthology of stories. It speaks of Kvadrat’s history and the celebrated collaboration with Nanna Ditzel that still echoes through the company; Danh Vo’s mission to discover more about the pioneering designer and the relationship between textiles and furniture; and the often hidden yet definitive role women have played in the textile industry. It also showcases the enduring relevance of classic Danish design.
The path to the unveiling of Sisu begins with Danh Vo’s curiosity about how textiles shape the experience of furniture. This led the artist to an admiration of Nanna Ditzel’s iconic design Hallingdal and the desire to explore her celebrated body of work. As Danh Vo set about searching for a characterful textile for his exhibition and learning more about the groundbreaking designer, he searched through Kvadrat’s archives and found Sisu – which forms a bridge to Hallingdal.
In 1965 Nanna Ditzel created Hallingdal for Halling-Koch Design Centre, started by artist and entrepreneur Baron Percy von Halling-Koch, as part of an eclectic collection that included furniture, rugs, curtains, and men’s ties. Available in an expansive scale of vibrant pastel colourways, it was an outstanding critical and commercial success. Subsequently, Percy Halling-Koch asked Poul Byriel and Bent Olsen, who had founded Kvadrat three years earlier, to distribute the design.
The rest is history. Hallingdal helped to establish Kvadrat and remains one of the company’s most popular designs. It personifies the pioneering spirit of the time when Danish creatives were pioneering new collaborations between architects, designers, and weavers – a movement in which Nanna Ditzel played a defining role – which Kvadrat champions to this day.
Sisu’s expression is reminiscent of looking at Hallingdal through a magnifying glass. The textile is woven with thick, voluminous woollen yarns and features a bold yet subtle, checked pattern. Blocks of colour play across its surface, rising to tactile, rhythmic effect. As with Hallingdal, the construction is immediately apparent when you look at the design: nothing is hidden, and it expresses the essence of the woven textile.
“Sisu directly links to Hallingdal, which is one of Kvadrat’s first textiles and plays a big part in our story. It shines a light on our history and the heritage of Danish design. It also acts as a timely reminder that most textile designers have traditionally been women – which is sometimes overlooked. The idea of underlining the defining role of female designers informed our exploration of the Kvadrat archives from the start.”
— Stine Find Osther, VP Design, Kvadrat
Sisu underlines the clarity of colour, design, and materials traditionally associated with the Kvadrat brand. At the same time, it sheds light on Nanna Ditzel’s impact on the firm, her vision – and her modesty.
The 16 colourways for Sisu match the yarn colours for Hallingdal, ensuring the textiles seamlessly complement each other. A testament to Nanna Ditzel’s ability to unite craftsmanship, design, and engineering, both upholsteries offer excellent performance and are suitable for virtually all commercial and residential applications.
“Many companies don’t design things to last. So, it is beautiful to see how seriously Kvadrat has re-produced this textile with every intention to make it last.”
— Danh Vo
To celebrate the launch of Sisu, Danh Vo and his two companions Louise and Martin Feldt from Galleri Feldt have created a special exhibition at Birgers Herretøj (Birger’s meanswear), an old menswear shop in Stubbekøbing, Denmark, that was purchased by Danh, Louise and Martin in 2020.
About Kvadrat Kvadrat was established in Denmark in 1968 and has deep roots in Scandinavia’s world-famous design tradition. A leader in design innovation, Kvadrat produces high-performance, design textiles, rugs, window covering and acoustic solutions for both commercial and residential interiors.