Around The Studio explore the materiality of Georgian felt through furniture design

Around The Studio a Tbilisi-based interdisciplinary product and interior design studio has showcased its furniture designs as part of a temporary installation. Inside the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, the studio transformed the religious site into a space dubbed Café Iris. The immersive installation allows visitors to participate in several events and activities that have been planned collaboratively. Through this intervention, professionals from various fields came together in the common café and provided visitors with various programmes. Founded by Ano Jishkariani and Tika Shelia, the studio continues to work with its habitual interdisciplinary approach, where the daily processes of the local environment are integral aspects of their projects.

The furniture pieces on display explore local and cultural influences, materials, and history. The primary material featured in the collection is Georgian natural felt, which is made by local women in Georgian regions and is a distinguishing feature of Around the Studio's aesthetic. The way the stage was set up with independent pieces placed to signify their intended purpose created a sense of temporality that serves as a reminder of the significance of public spaces and their obligation to reflect distinct challenges at each new stage simultaneously. Jishkariani and Shelia believe that the finished collection is proof of the perseverance and commitment of the craft women and shows how important and valuable Georgian-felt processing can be in the contemporary design world.

The furniture designers executed an extensive manufacturing procedure before attaining the desired outcome of furniture ranging from chair designs and benches to table designs. While product research and fabrication took place in Tbilisi, women from the surrounding regions of Georgia manufactured fabrics. To improve their designs, Around the Studio worked with several manufacturers, running tests and building models to ensure the final quality and ergonomics of the furniture pieces. “The process of creating the felt fabric was a long and labour-intensive one, but it was worth it to see the final result,’ shares the duo.

By transforming a religious site into a vibrant hub of creativity and communal engagement, this project exemplifies the transformative power of design to transcend boundaries and foster meaningful connections within diverse communities in Georiga. Through the furniture collection, Jishkariani and Shelia celebrated the resilience and artistry of Georgian craftsmanship. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the furniture pieces to discover not only their functionality but also the stories and customs that are woven into each piece, capturing the spirit of modern design with a strong cultural foundation.