A partnership characterised by creativity and the warmth of the African continent: that between the social tailoring brand KeChic and the natural and eco-sustainable homeware range RivaViva. Cushions, bedspreads, table runners and duvet covers that combine the warm, vibrant colours of wax prints with the finest Italian craftsmanship. All with a keen eye for the environment and social sustainability.
A new homeware range designed to bring together cultures and passions, unveiled for the first time during Design Week 2022. It was born from the collaboration of four individuals, each bringing their own background and story to the project. Cristina Riva, architect and CEO of Riva, combined her knowledge of solid wood – drawn from her family business’s artisanal tradition – with a green philosophy focused on people’s health and the planet’s wellbeing in the early 1990s: the result is a new range of eco-sustainable furniture; Sonia Abbondi, a home stylist who is always up to date with the latest trends and able to bring shape and colour to her clients’ wishes; Valeria Zanoni, a communications professional with a passion for Africa, who, together with Cheick Diattara – a professional tailor trained at the Centre Handicapé in Dakar – founded the KeChic brand.
Cushions, table runners and bedspreads that bring the warmth and charm of Africa into the living room and bedroom. Unique pieces, sustainably crafted and imbued with the magical charm of being “handmade”; patterns that radiate positive energy and evoke distant atmospheres. Wax fabric, with its fascinating history – originating in the Netherlands, produced on the island of Java, then travelling across Africa and spreading throughout the world – its symbolic language and its rich colours, blends with any style and setting, giving the space a distinctive character. No wax print ever goes unnoticed: from the most naturalistic and decorative designs, inspired by the East, featuring floral motifs or sacred animals, to the more playful and pop-inspired ones featuring modern objects and icons.
All accessories are crafted with due regard for the environment, so that furnishing your home is an act of love not only towards yourself, but also towards the planet. So no waste, reusing production offcuts, one-off pieces to minimise stock, as well as that care for the most vulnerable that bears the hallmark of KeChic tailoring – where every piece is sewn by people facing hardship, particularly foreign tailors, refugees or people with disabilities. The range, born from the partnership between RivaViva and KeChic, promises a joyful and welcoming home that radiates energy, good humour and vitality.