A highlight of the 2023 edition of Material Matters was 'Planted' - a range of unique textile pieces by Copenhagen-based designer Tanja Kirst.

The pieces were installed on the ground floor of Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, forming a beautiful entrance experience for all visitors. The ten pieces - made by combining hemp with citrus yarn created from cellulose from Italian orange and lemon peel, pineapple yarn and seaweed yarn - form a new collection for Kirst as she continues to be fascinated by the qualities of hemp.

‘I've championed the use of hemp over the last seven years’, says Kirst. ‘It has many qualities and requires a curious mind to unlock its potential. It has been under-used in interior design, and I see it as my mission to re-think how this fantastic material could be used’.

Supported by the Danish Arts Foundation for its appearance at Material Matters 2023, the Planted series is the first time Kirst’s work has combined hemp with other materials. The pieces are hand-woven and foretell the commercial development of a new sustainable textile; she is working with Massimo Copenhagen to develop a range of rugs using the knowledge acquired by creating the ten Planted pieces.

Planted asks the simple question: can oranges, seaweed and hemp be transformed into textiles without compromising aesthetics? For her London debut as a textile designer that should be watched, the answer from Tanja Kirst is definitely 'yes'.

Image: Tanja Kirst, Planted. Photo by Nanna Navntoft.