Chilewich: Sandy Chilewich

Rayboule Design

Sandy Chilewich's journey into design innovation began with the creation of the rayboule, a unique wireframe bowl with stretched material. This product gained significant recognition when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) featured it prominently on their new e-commerce site, marking a pivotal moment in her career 1. Sandy's exploration of materials led her to discover woven vinyl, a material initially used for outdoor furniture, which she found at a material library in New York 2. This discovery was crucial in her creative process, as she began experimenting with the material's potential for new designs 3.

The first thing I had to do is to see if people actually would buy this thing. So I was connected to somebody that was the head of the MoMA design store, and they saw it, and they launched, literally launched their whole website with an image of that bowl.

--- Sandy Chilewich

Her husband's architectural background also played a role in developing the rayboule prototype, showcasing the collaborative nature of her design journey.

   

Placemat Innovation

The innovation of woven vinyl placemats marked a significant milestone in Sandy Chilewich's career. Her intuitive leap from outdoor furniture material to placemats was a turning point, as she realized the material's aesthetic and functional potential for home design 4. The placemats quickly gained popularity, with international acclaim at a Paris show, where they captivated audiences with their simplicity and elegance 5.

I remember the first international show that I did in Paris for the EU, and I'm standing there when we introduced it and I went to the ladies room and then I'm walking back and literally there's like a wall of people around our booth.

--- Sandy Chilewich

Sandy's placemats challenged traditional perceptions, transforming a humble product into a desirable, everyday luxury item.