Jil Sander reinterprets a design icon

German designer Jil Sander, famous for her refined minimalism and purist approach to fashion, enters the world of furniture thanks to her first collaboration with Thonet and the JS . THONET collection. With this project, Jil Sander engages in the art of reinterpreting the great classics of tubular steel design of the 1920s, leaving a personal imprint on the works born from the Bauhaus tradition, in particular on the famous S 64 cantilever chair, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in the period 1929/1930.

Jil Sander's creative approach, which firmly states that "creativity is simply part of my life", translates into a design that manages to combine elegance, functionality and innovation. With JS . THONET, the designer breathes new life into an icon, enhancing every detail with extraordinary craftsmanship and an aesthetic that harks back to fashion as well as architecture. The precious materials, the leather and woven cane upholstery and the sophisticated glossy and matte finishes represent the distinctive element of a project that intends to celebrate tradition without sacrificing a touch of modernity.

The interpretation proposed by Jil Sander is expressed in two lines that, although declining different nuances, share the same attention to detail and quality. On the one hand, the line that stands out for its decisive and contemporary character, with shiny structures with a finish similar to titanium and seats upholstered in leather in different shades, up to a Dark Melange version that uses the woven cane to create suggestive contrasts. On the other, a proposal that becomes warmer and more welcoming, thanks to an elegant combination of satin nickel frames and bleached oak inserts, completed by leather upholstery in natural tones or a delicate cane weave in light colors.

The collaboration between Jil Sander and Thonet is not the result of chance: both brands share a similar vision, in which the rigor of tradition is combined with innovation and the ability to combine design and functionality. According to Norbert Ruf, creative director of Thonet, Jil Sander has been able to draw on the tradition of the Bauhaus, becoming the ideal figure to reinterpret these symbols of design. The passion for precision in materials and workmanship, combined with a constant search for perfection, makes each piece in the collection a tribute not only to the history of furniture, but also to an aesthetic philosophy that defies time.

Jil Sander's inspirations are not lacking: from the shine of a Steinway piano, through the elegance of the leather upholstery of a refined English car, to the understated refinement of the satin nickel used in architecture, each element has contributed to creating a collection that is both bold and respectful of tradition. This sensibility is not limited only to the reinterpretation of the chair, but also extends to other furnishings, such as the B 97 coffee table, a classic from 1933 re-proposed in a modern key. The coffee table, with its dimensions that recall the historic Marcel Breuer series, is designed to combine practicality and design, being able to be used both as a furnishing accessory and as a functional element in modern environments.

During Milan Design Week, the S64 chair by Jil Sander can be admired in the heart of the Brera Design District, Galleria Il Castello, Via Brera 16, in Milan from 7 to 13 April 2025.

Curated by Nicole Villa

Avion Luxury Magazine

Text source and photo: Thonet GmbH Press

Photo credits: Thonet GmbH, photographer: Hartmut Nägele

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