British designer Max Lamb has partnered with the luxury brand Bottega Veneta to produce a distinctive seating arrangement for its Winter 2026 fashion presentation in Milan. Utilizing expanded polystyrene, a material commonly associated with disposable food packaging, Lamb meticulously crafted 421 chairs. These unique pieces were thoughtfully arranged in precise rows within the historic Palazzo San Fedele, serving as both functional seating for the audience and an integral part of the show's aesthetic. The collaboration also featured artist Poppy Jones's Woven Shirt painting, which Bottega Veneta's creative director, Louise Trotter, incorporated into the event's invitations.
The chairs, presented in a subtle cream tone, created a striking visual contrast against the rich red velvet carpeting of the venue. Each seat's surface displayed distinctive, uneven textures, a testament to the individual hand-cutting and finishing processes employed by Lamb and his design team. The fabrication of these chairs began with four-inch-thick slabs of expanded polystyrene. To minimize material waste, Lamb meticulously planned the cutting process, dividing each slab into precise components. The final chair design incorporated separate parts for the seat, back, and legs, demanding thousands of individual pieces to complete the entire collection of 421 chairs. Every leg and support structure was also fashioned from the same foam material.
The creation of these chairs followed a structured sequence: cutting, bonding, assembly, and protective coating. Lamb employed specialized hot wire tools for precise cutting of the polystyrene. Drawing inspiration from his previous project, the Economy Chair (01) for Salon 94 Design gallery, he refined his hot wire cutting techniques to achieve the intricate shapes required for the Bottega Veneta collaboration. These precise cuts were instrumental in defining the chair's geometric form, with straight lines and flat surfaces contributing to its ultimate structure.
Following the assembly stage, each chair received a layer of unpigmented polyurethane rubber. This coating, applied directly from its container, effectively sealed the foam surface, creating a seamless and durable exterior. The result was a chair featuring a foam core enveloped by a rubber shell. The commitment to craftsmanship extended to every detail, with each chair being meticulously hand-cut and hand-finished. This project underscores Max Lamb's extensive 15-year exploration into expanded polystyrene, a material he has consistently utilized in his 'Poly' and 'Scrap Poly' series. Through this collaboration with Bottega Veneta, Lamb not only scaled up his design approach but also maintained the integrity of his signature techniques, showcasing his ongoing innovation in material use and design.
This innovative collaboration between Max Lamb and Bottega Veneta highlights the potential of reimagining everyday materials for high-fashion contexts, showcasing both aesthetic appeal and a conscious approach to design. The chairs served not just as seating, but as a conversation piece, reinforcing the brand's commitment to artistry and unique expression within the fashion landscape.