Foam Fascination: Softy by Simon Stanislawski.

‘Wood Crack’ in nude wall work. Photo by Edward Greiner.

Close up of the ‘Sixpack For One’ armless armchair. Photo by Rene Otto.

‘Softy Cloud For Three’ sofa in blue. Photo by Edward Greiner.

Simon Stanislawski’s Sustainable Furniture Collection Softy. Photo by Edward Greiner.

Based between Berlin and Hamburg, Simon Stanislawski’s design expertise lies in playing with sheet materials like metal and timber, but a recent fascination with foam has led him down an unconventional avenue. His latest collection of functional objects and furniture, Softy, offers a fun solution to mattress waste.

Never given mattress waste much thought? Neither had we, but he makes a compelling case: “Every night, humans transpire half a litre of sweat. Combined with loose hair, dead skin flakes and possible body fluids, the sleeping surface thus becomes a highly intimate and also somewhat precarious matter,” Simon explains. “In any case, when it comes to buying a new one, only very few people choose a used model; in Europe alone, 30 million mattresses are disposed of every year—60 percent are landfilled, the rest is burnt.”

So the designer got to work, donned in gloves and a mask, meticulously disassembling mattresses to reveal the original pastel tones of the foam. These vibrant tones become the basis for the collection’s colour palette. The shapes of the furniture emerge organically from the hands-on process, with a final coating of PU lacquer providing a robust, flexible, and hygienic finish.

Opus Vincula: Mattresses Bound by Charlie White.

Charlie White’s Opus Vincula exhibition of experimental furniture uses mattresses found curbside. These discarded objects became the source of polyurethane foam for making furniture and lighting objects.

Softy challenges expectations by playing with the contrast between the perceived hardness of traditional materials and the surprising softness and comfort it delivers. The result is a collection that not only reimagines the potential of discarded mattresses but also encourages a re-evaluation of consumer behaviour.

This initial collection is just the start, with Simon looking to dive deeper into an exploration of the material. His future plans involve collaboration with producers, furniture manufacturers, and recycling yards to further innovate in sustainable design.

Looks like Magic: Textile Clay by Jorge Penadés.

This new research project utilises industrial textile “fluff” combined with water-based binders, challenging the way we view waste...

Softy Family Portrait with ‘Softy Cloud’ sofa, ‘Sixpack For One’ armless armchair and ‘A Pillow Stand’ with pillows. Photo by Rene Otto.

[Images courtesy of Simon Stanislawski. Photography by Edward Greiner and Rene Otto.]