Curtains Project with Sophie Hicks Architects for Max Mara
Together with Sophie Hicks Architects, we developed for Max Mara the hand embroidered linen curtains for the fitting rooms of the new space on Avenue Montaigne in Paris.
The project began with the staircase designed by Sophie Hicks in collaboration with Arup Structures. Visible from across the street, the double orange helix rises through the heart of the building and continues through its reflection on the polished ceiling. Conceived as a flame, it was designed to announce the arrival of an Italian presence on one of the most important shopping streets in Paris.
Throughout the history of commerce, staircases have marked the evolution of retail spaces. This is why Sophie Hicks gave us the staircase as the starting point for the project.
Reflecting on its spiral movement and interweaving, we developed an embroidery that translates the movement and structure of the staircase into the linen. Drawn-thread embroidery worked entirely by hand on linen, featuring two long, parallel vertical bands positioned at the centre of the panel.
To create the openwork areas, selected warp threads are carefully withdrawn along the length of each band. The remaining weft threads are then gathered into small bundles, tensioned and secured along the edges with a linear hemstitch, precisely defining the openings while preventing the fabric from losing its shape.
The bands are divided into sections of varying lengths, worked in écru thread with wrapped horizontal bars, crossed diagonal stitches, diamond motifs and geometric darning over the grid. Variations in stitch tension and arrangement gradually alter the density of the embroidery, alternating more compact sections with lighter, more transparent areas.
The irregular sequence of motifs creates a free and dynamic rhythm, almost improvised in its variations.
Curtains by Chiarastella Cattana
Architecture by Sophie Hicks Architects
Structural engineering by Arup Structures
For Max Mara, Avenue Montaigne, Paris
Ph. Alex Lai Ling
Assisted by Samuele Crotti
Project support Marco Marino
