All about Slow Design
Slowing down, forcing ourselves to go slower in our pace of work, life, consumption... We've all been marked by this obligation to put a stop to our lives, in 2020, because of the pandemic. A trend that has been underway for several years now.
In fact, a certain desire to consume less and better had already appeared in various fields: dressing, eating, housing in a different way, breaking the frantic pace of consumption that had prevailed since the 1990s... These new principles of consumption have emerged over the last twenty years or so, and have become increasingly fashionable with consumers. A new trend dubbed slow design, and which responded to new aspirations in all areas.
What is slow design?
It's hard to talk about slow design without taking a look in the rear-view mirror... Back to the 1990s, and the fast design trend, popularized by multinationals like Ikea and even H&M.
The fast design trend that emerged in the home decoration sector was simply a continuation of a craze already seen in the textile industry. For fashion had already set the pace, with collections renewing faster and faster, and wardrobes seeing a constant stream of new garments. The idea behind fast fashion, and then fast design, was to produce more, faster, more often and always more cheaply. Buoyed by formidable marketing and highly attractive prices, the brands that embarked on this approach got us used to renewing our wardrobes or home decor as often as possible.
Pushed by this wave of affordable prices often associated with questionable quality, consumers have become accustomed to consuming disposables. A study by McKinsey revealed the following result: "on average, a person buys 60% more clothes and keeps them half as much as 15 years ago."
But some were quick to note that these concepts of fast fashion and fast design were in reality, more often than not, just cheap fashion with a significant impact on our carbon footprint.
As early as 2002, Alastair Fuad-Luke, professor of design at the University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy, began to introduce the notion of slow design. Still presenting himself today as an activist, his approach was already intended to make us think about our habits of overconsumption. The academic wanted to motivate his design peers to manufacture in a sustainable and eco-responsible way, primarily to meet the needs of individuals while respecting the environment.
Today, the injunction still retains its full meaning... According to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, "the quantity of waste furniture elements (DEA) has increased significantly over the last thirty years, due to changes in lifestyle and consumption habits, but also to the limited lifespan of cheap products."
This movement hasn't just focused on design and fashion. In cuisine, the idea of slow food had already been present since the 1980s, with a conception of food celebrating biodiversity and traditions. This quest for slow food was reinforced at the start of the 21stcentury with an even more proactive approach, encouraging consumers to change their eating habits, take the time to cook and enjoy the pleasures of the table. A concept at the opposite end of the fast-food spectrum.
The key points of slow design or the values of slow design
The key points of slow design tend towards a common goal: to consume better, less and in an eco-responsible way.
To achieve this goal, companies wishing to distribute items in line with the slow design approach have tried to adapt their production, distribution or communication systems. Committed to sustainable development, they aim to respect values in line with ethical production. By offering creations with a link to nature, they emphasize the place that consumers must play in it, but also highlight the value of craftsmanship. In the style of slow-design manufacturers, there are generally five essential steps:
- The use of recycled materials to manufacture their items, or even recourse to upcycling, which enables them to create at lower cost,
- A desire to reduce or even eliminate the use of plastic in packaging, to sell products only in eco-designed, recyclable packaging,
- An emphasis on artisanal creations, to put know-how and tradition back at the heart of production, and favor smaller rather than industrial quantities,
- A simple styling and structure , enabling easy manufacture of parts and offering them a long life, to preserve resources and the environment,
- A timeless design object, not subject to fashions, but focused on user needs.
If your decorating ideas are guided by similar concepts for furnishing your home, you can say you're in the slow movement!
Discover our lighting fixtures and accessories
Slow design in your home
A light and natural design
On the home decor side, adopting the slow concept will motivate you to rethink your interior, also sorting out your needs and therefore your equipment. You'll quickly adopt the less is more theory, and this minimalism will bring you greater comfort and serenity.
In practical terms, taking inspiration from slow design means, for example:
- Choosing natural materials for your bed linen, your rug, falling for a woven electric thread in natural linen from France Hoopzï that will give cachet and a more refined charm to your decor. Whether in your bedroom or your living room, natural elements have their place everywhere!
- Move table, chairs, and other furniture to allow natural light to flood your living room . Make the choice ofsuspension light fixtures with a wood or wicker pendant to enhance your lighting.
- Equip yourself only with the furniture and decorations you need , keep the essentials to refocus on yourself and live in a more soothing atmosphere.
Opting for this decorating style means choosing a streamlined interior that doesn't stifle your bedroom, kitchen or living room, and feeling a sense of freedom in your home. Live in a relaxing, slow atmosphere!
The materials of slow design
Choose ecological and natural elements but also from recycling, such as raw wood, linen, wool, wicker, but also marble and copper. Noble materials that let you feel close to nature.
The slow design trend is ecological, natural materials have a key place in it, those from recycling are also welcome in this movement as they respect the environment.
Hoopzi, a company committed to the slow design movement, has thus chosen to create arange of lampshades made from biomaterials that recycles oyster waste while opting for a timeless design. See also our natural materials hanging lamps to dress up your interior! A pretty wooden lampshade suspended from a linen-woven electric wire will be the perfect match for a slow-deco concept decor.
The colors of slow design
While this trend can be applied to all styles, it encourages the choice of furniture and decorative accessories characterized by their simplicity and low environmental impact.
To follow the trend all the way, it's advisable not to mix too many colors in your interior, to preserve a neutrality that will guarantee harmony and softness. For decorating elements that blend easily into your interior, choose neutral and pastel colors.
Off-white, khaki, beige, but also pale shades of brick or pink, are the big winning shades! They create a soft, soothing harmony for your slow decor.
HOOPZI and slow design
Since its creation, the Hoopzi brand has been part of the slow deco movement, with a timeless design that favors the manufacture of sustainable, non-disposable products.
Hoopzi, supplierlighting for professionals and private individuals, avoids plastic throughout its production chain. As a result, since 2019, our lighting pendant brand has done away with plastic packaging in favor of eco-designed kraft packaging.
We also decided several years ago to prove our commitment to a sustainable approach by offering a 10-year warranty on all products. Buying Hoopzi is buying a sustainable consumer good.
In 2022, Hoopzi continued its commitment to manufacturing in line with slow design values by deciding to weave its electric wire fabric range with French linen. Linen, unlike cotton, requires no irrigation or phytosanitary products. The linen that covers Hoopzi electrical wires comes exclusively from France and is certified 100% european flax.
2022 also marks the birth of the first design object made from oyster biomaterials, a lampshade to dress up your lighting fixtures in an original way that's in tune with nature.
Finally, we shouldn't forget that the Hoopzï range of luminous suspensions enables a large number of craftsmen, artists and upcycling enthusiasts to design their own lights.
Slow living, that change of pace that says no to overconsumption, still has plenty of ways to invade our lives. Travel, cooking, work, what slow consumer will you be?
L'Équipe Hoopzi.
Leave a comment