Hats off to the ‘Freifrau x Maryam Keyhani’ collection: a fusion of art and furniture design

‘Furniture made out of passion’: this phrase, which is deeply rooted in Freifrau's DNA, has shaped everything the renowned seating manufacturer has done since 2011. From the very beginning, founder Hansjörg Helweg, a trained cabinetmaker, left no doubt that he wanted to create something new and unprecedented. Today, the sensual, feminine product line has become the standard, created in collaboration with renowned design experts as well as energetic newcomers, whose designs and creations play a decisive role in shaping the brand.

Especially at Freifrau, women play a unique role. The best proof of this is the recent collaboration with the internationally acclaimed milliner and artist Maryam Keyhani, who has worked closely with the Lemgo-based seating manufacturer to create an extraordinary design project. This much can be revealed in advance: here, there is no boundary between a piece of furniture and an object of art, as the two merge into a harmonious unity, leading to a unique moment of surprise.

Perhaps it’s the certain ‘wink’ and, most definitely, the smile that the new Freifrau x Maryam Keyhani collection brings to the lips of its viewers, inviting them to explore, touch and ultimately, of course, to linger. The design really does arouse curiosity: take a seat on a hat? There is only one answer: yes!

The Freifrau x Maryam Keyhani collection includes two cushion variants called Giti and Roya, each upholstered in fabric in one of three colours selected by the designer, as well as the Ziba pouf, which is also available in three colours and also in a black and white version. With the female first names for the products, the artist refers to her Iranian roots and, at the same time, continues a Freifrau tradition.

However, the meeting and merging of two worlds goes far beyond the naming of the hat-shaped cushions, which are available in a total of ten different designs in a limited edition of 20 pieces. The ‘hats’ fulfil a suitable function in every situation: on a spacious sofa like Mia, for example, on a chair that remains free at dinner, or simply as an eye-catcher in the living area. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how and where the flexible cushions find their place.

It is Maryam Keyhani's individual, unconventional approach that has clearly been incorporated into the products for all to see. After all, the ordinary doesn't have to look ordinary. Instead, the striking cushions as poufs, with their unusual shape and colourful cheerfulness, radiate positive energy and a joie de vivre. They may even bring out the child in you that would like to play on them or have someone to lean on.

This unbiased way of designing and thus bringing a captivating vibrancy to the space also captivated the company. ‘The collaboration with Maryam was to take place on an artistic level, completely free of established norms, clichés and conventions. At the same time, we wanted to completely rethink the topics of sitting and relaxing, which we deal with on a daily basis,’ says Niklas Helweg, one of the two managing directors of Freifrau Manufaktur, describing the inspiration behind the collaboration. Despite its suitability for everyday use, the limited edition collection remains exclusive. After all, these are entirely handmade cushions and poufs in the shape of hats, which could easily be considered true collectors’ items.

For Freifrau, working with artists has always been an essential part of the concept from the very beginning. In this case, it was the creative ideas and values, the feminine nature of the art and the playful approach that drew the company's attention to the Berlin-based milliner and artist. ‘It is always beneficial for us to see how others work. They bring new approaches and new ways of thinking that we like to be inspired by. This results in new products and sometimes, as in Maryam's case, even completely new product categories,’ says Niklas Helweg, delighted with the new collaboration.

For Maryam Keyhani, too, the collaboration was an enriching experience that she would not have missed out on. ‘For me, the honest, handcrafted work that is practised in the Freifrau upholstery workshop in Lemgo was very inspiring and enriching. The high-quality workmanship, durability and customised design that take centre stage here are important values that we must cultivate and live by in order to promote a future worth living,’ says the designer. In this way, Freifrau x Maryam Keyhani has become a harmonious collaborative project: the collection is a tangible reflection of the diversity and playfulness that both partners bring to their work, be it in the choice of materials, the shapes or the meticulous craftsmanship.

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