A limited-edition oak chair honoring UAE pearling history, blending repurposed fabrics and wood to evoke the tension of the sea.
Lounge chair.
Oak wood, textured fabric, pearl paint finish, copper.
80 x 60 x 100 cm.
Limited edition.
This project explores sustainability not only as an environmental responsibility but as a cultural act of preservation and storytelling. Using discarded materials—teak wood, metal offcuts, and leftover sustainable fabric—it gives new life to what would otherwise be waste. The fabric is repurposed from past projects, blended and naturally dyed to produce a fresh, textured material. This approach reduces environmental impact while embracing the imperfections and narratives embedded in reused resources.
Inspired by the disappearing era of pearl diving in the UAE, the concept emerged from research into a complex history filled with both hardship and beauty—the joy of reunion and the fear of loss. Families stood by the shore, anxious yet hopeful, waiting for loved ones to return from the sea. For the divers, the ocean was both a livelihood and a place of profound personal sacrifice. The design subtly echoes the form of traditional wooden boats, with a structure that conveys tension, strength, and anticipation, while layered, repurposed fabrics mirror the passage of time and the blending of memory, erosion, and resilience.
This piece reflects the tension of the shoreline—the silence, the watching, the prayers, the eventual relief or heartbreak. It is a homage to the endurance of families and the bravery of the divers, preserving a shared cultural experience that is rapidly fading from collective memory. The chair is made to last for generations, crafted from quality materials that have already lived a life, now reborn with intention and meaning.
