Bottega Veneta Summer 2027: Cardboard Box Stools

Bottega Veneta has unveiled a striking collaboration for its Summer 2027 fashion show, partnering with artist Illya Goldman Gubin to create a series of sculptural stools crafted entirely from cardboard boxes. Titled Karton Hocker or Cardboard Stool, the project explores the intersection of performative art, raw materials, and high-end fashion design through unconventional furniture pieces.

The creative process begins with standard shipping boxes that are typically discarded after delivering their contents. Instead of throwing them away, Goldman Gubin directly manipulates the cardboard through a physical, hands-on crumpling process. Every crease, dent, and surface irregularity resulting from the artist's physical gestures remains permanently visible on the finished piece, ensuring that no two stools are exactly alike.

"The box that once carried an object can now carry a person."

Illya Goldman Gubin

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

To construct the seats, the designer utilizes the original structure of the box, folding and interlocking the container flaps in a way that directly echoes Bottega Veneta's signature Intrecciato leather-weaving technique. Once the altered cardboard form is reinforced with layers of resin and fiberglass, the original material remains legible beneath the hardened surface, transforming a disposable shipping container into a durable and functional seat.