The Kiyumi seating collection has a sinuous structure in black painted tubular steel. On this frame are fitted the seat and curved back, in ash veneered plywood – in five colours – or upholstered in fabric or leather. Even in the upholstered version the frame, aesthetic before being functional, remains visible. Sleek and essential, Kiyumi conceals a complex construction design that makes the screws connecting back and frame invisible, for an impeccably clean line. The collection includes chairs, armchairs and stools. Versatile, light and stackable, this seating fits into many contexts, from the home to contract environments such as bars and restaurants, where its style and excellent construction shine.
Kiyumi is a Japanese word meaning ‘arch’. In actual fact, in my country we more commonly find the word which, as an ideogram, reads as ko(co), but kiyumi is closer to the original meaning of ‘arch of wood’. Yumi, an instrument used in archery made of wooden sheets, has very ancient origins and a rich tradition that have made it a symbol of Japanese culture. So kiyumi seemed to me the ideal name for this seating, where the shape of a bow recurs everywhere, from the sinuous structure to the curved back. It is a collection of very complex construction, deceptively linear. I insisted that the frame should remain visible even in the upholstered version, while the trickiest part concerned the screws fixing the back to the structure, which are now concealed, making the chair even more essential.
