Padded armchair Basket textile cane & fibres / By Joe Colombo (1967) - Gubi

After decades of being out of production, Gubi relaunched the iconic Basket collection, created by Italian designer Joe Colombo in the late 1960s. Basket is, at a glance, one of the most surprising collections from Joe Colombo, who is known for his futuristic style, his love of technology and his affinity for synthetic materials. Yet, taking a closer look, you can clearly spot Joe Colombo's style in this rattan furniture: lines that are both geometric and organic, a resolutely modernist aesthetic and a highly innovative approach in the material. First produced in the late 1960s, the Basket collection is bouncing back, reflecting the original 1967 designs, slightly optimised to adapt them to the ergonomic requirements of today. The fibreglass interior structure used initially by Colombo has been replaced by a steel structure, which is more resistant and more environmentally-friendly. It's covered with hand-woven rattan, with intertwined bands and oval posts, a technique requires significant skill. This frame has welcoming, rounded cushions with removable covers. These creations are gems of design and craftsmanship. The name "Basket" pays tribute to the classic hand-weaving technique used in traditional rattan basketwork. The collection features a three-seater sofa, a two-seater sofa and an armchair, which all share the same construction. As explained by Ignazia Favata, former assistant of the designer and current Director of Joe Colombo Studio: "The Basket collection gives a new shape to traditional materials, exploiting an innovative structure that had never been used before for products excelling in size and in lightweight design. It's really exciting to see it back in production and to see Colombo's work reach new audiences thanks to the collaboration with Gubi."