Coco Flip Explores the art of Pleating at Melbourne Design Week 2023.

For Melbourne Design Week 2023, Coco Flip presents Linear, an exhibition of limited-edition lighting alongside a short film that explores the history and legacy of pleating. The exhibition poses two questions—What is the value of our local artisan industry? And what stands to be lost when these industries are no longer viable?

Working with Melbourne’s last remaining pleating factory—Specialty Pleaters in Williamstown—the lighting and design studio seeks to understand the historical significance of pleating and engage with the process, exploring new ways that pleating can be applied in a contemporary design context. “This project has been an opportunity for us to explore a more free, creative process, outside the commercial constraints of product design,” explains Kate Stokes, Coco Flip’s Founder and Co-Director.

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In the spirit of experimentation, a series of limited-edition sculptural forms have been developed that combine pleated linen and reclaimed timber. Linear explores various systems of clamping, hanging, and draping to create intricate details that celebrate the beauty of pleated textiles. Inspired by modernist architecture, the interface between materials, and ceremony, these lights offer a warm glow, much the same as a glimpse through a window at dusk.

Accompanying the work is a short, documentary-style video sharing the story of the pleating workshop and the process behind the exhibition. “Pleating is such a fascinating process with a rich history. It’s been a joy to learn more about it,” concludes Coco Flip’s Co-Director, Haslett Grounds.

On show now, the exhibition runs until May 28, with evening drinks and film screening on May 25. For more information, click here.

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[Images courtesy of Coco Flip. Photography by Pier Carthew. Video by Silky Jazz Films.]