The Transformative Designs of Studio Nicky Vollebregt
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIONS
Textile designer and researcher Nicky Vollebregt aims to transform how we think about the materials and the objects we rely on every day. Within her design process, textile craft and industrial textile techniques collide, resulting in intricate materials that speculate on unconventional and innovative applications.
Rotterdam-based Studio Nicky Vollebregt questions object attachment and investigates emotionally sustainable design, or what Nicky refers to as ‘design to cherish’. Her aim is to not merely to create visually appealing designs but to foster new dialogues.
“Sustainable design extends beyond circular, responsible, and ethical material use and production. It also encompasses the way we engage with, relate to, and find meaning in objects, encouraging a desire to own, care for, and treasure them.” explains Nicky. She wants to evoke emotional connections, and show how sustainability can be integrated into every aspect of the design process.
“Sustainable design extends beyond circular, responsible, and ethical material use and production. It also encompasses the way we engage with, relate to, and find meaning in objects, encouraging a desire to own, care for, and treasure them.”
credit: Patty van den Elshout i.o.v. TextielMuseum
credit: Patty van den Elshout i.o.v. TextielMuseum
Weaving stories and interaction Nicky presents experimental projects like Pollia, HIGHLIGHT, and Uncover, each inviting us to rethink our everyday interactions with the things we use.
Pollia: Seeking Uniqueness in Reproducibility
Pollia merges manual craftsmanship with machine precision to create woven textiles that are identical in design yet uniquely distinct. Inspired by manual smocking, the mechanically woven Pollia textiles transform from flat fabrics into luminous, sculptural 3D forms through their precise structural design. The project invites us to think about mass-production versus craft and highlights themes like individuality and personalisation.
HIGHLIGHT: Exploring Interaction
HIGHLIGHT is a celebration of experiment, craft and a curiosity-driven exploration of weaving. Nicky combines colours and light with materials in ways that feel almost magical, creating pieces that shift and adapt as they interact with their surroundings. Whether it’s the HIGHLIGHT Olegi or any of other works, HIGHLIGHT reflects Nicky’s fascination with the interplay of light, colour, and perspective.
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
Uncover: Embracing Change and Imperfection
In Uncover, Nicky explores the lifecycle of materials and objects, encouraging us to see beauty in change. By focusing on transformation – how products evolve over time – she challenges the traditional notion of static perfection. Uncover inspires us to care for our possessions, fostering a sense of attachment and responsibility that aligns with the principles of emotional sustainability.
Collaboration as a Catalyst for Innovation
Nicky works on self-initiated research projects and collaborates with researchers and specialists across industries to apply her materials and/or approach. Nicky’s approach is refreshingly holistic and delves into untapped areas where industrial textile techniques, craft and narrative blend into truly distinctive and meaningful designs.
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
credit: Studio Nicky Vollebregt
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