From the quiet decay of the forest floor to the forefront of design innovation, the Folium collection transforms
organic waste from local forests into an enduring, leather-like biomaterial. It stands as an innovative approach to
reshaping the natural cycle, where seasonal foliage is preserved as a durable, bio-based textile – a deliberate
attempt to introduce unconventional, responsible management of our local resources.
Folium itself is a material birthed entirely from whole tree leaves subjected to a series of gentle, non-toxic
chemical treatments. These simple processes allow us to preserve the fragile botanical matter, capturing its
intricate biological structure without sacrificing any of its initial essence. Through this quiet alchemy, the
leaves acquire a newfound strength, achieving a remarkable flexibility and resilience that allows them to be layered
into firm, pliable sheets.
Translating this material into a spatial form resulted in a collection of table lamps, marking the very first
functional application of our experiment. They serve not only as utilitarian objects but as testaments to the
harmonious merging of experimental craftsmanship with respect for the natural world. The research and development of
techniques required to create Folium have been financed by Poland’s National Recovery Plan for Culture (KPO).
It is in the embrace of darkness, at the very moment of their illumination, that the lamps make their most
breathtaking impression. The fascinating, complex venation of the leaves, bathed in the warm light from within,
suddenly gains an ethereal contrast. The light slowly pierces through the organic matter, exposing a multi-layered
depth that remains hidden from the naked eye, drawing the observer into a state of silent contemplation.
The true anchor of this process is the multi-day soaking of the gathered leaves in specially developed solutions.
This slow, deliberate stage is what allows water to be retained within their cellular structure. Through this
entrapment of moisture, the seemingly fragile leaves achieve their plasticity and flexibility, enabling them to form
a new, cohesive fabric without shattering.
The process of bringing Folium into existence, however, is tedious and demands patience. After carefully extracting
the wet leaves from the solution, they must be meticulously dried, pressed, arranged, and glued into dense sheets of
material, and subsequently preserved. Once the fabric is prepared, it is stretched and wrapped with utmost tailoring
precision over frames constructed from stainless steel.
To maintain focus on the material itself and its unique properties, the form of the Folium Lamp collection has been
deliberately reduced to an absolute minimum. The lamps, which we craft entirely by hand from scratch, are meant to
proudly exhibit the material without ever overshadowing it. The piece acts solely as a silent, structural canvas for
nature’s elevated beauty.
The research on this material remains in continuous development, existing as an open chapter of the artistic
journey. We deeply believe that Folium still holds a vast amount of undiscovered potential, which we are attempting
to fathom with our fascination. It stands before a genuine opportunity to contribute a meaningful cornerstone to the
growing shift toward biomaterials in modern design, reminding the world that the end of one cycle in nature can
gracefully become the beginning of an entirely new, enduring story.
