Emma Casella is a Swiss industrial designer. She studied graphic design at CSIA in Lugano and studied industrial design at ECAL. She was born in the state of Glaubinden and grew up in the province of Ticino. She has a deep connection with the Alps since she was a child. This environment had a special impact on her artistic practice, making her very sensitive to traditional skills that are often forgotten in high-altitude valleys, attracting her to discover them. For this purpose, she began research on Swiss wool in August 2021, hoping to give it new value while retaining their traditional characteristics, and the project is still in progress.
During her residency, Emma focused on the exploration and innovative application of natural fiber technology in mountainous areas.
She conducted field research in Buto Market, Lisu Village, Xide County Wool Factory and Ganluo Embroidery Workshop in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and tested the changes in the texture and structure of wool felt through various material experiments. She also conducted plant dyeing experiments in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, using mountain plants in Sichuan and traditional blue dyeing technology to dye fireweed fibers and wool fibers. In addition, Emma also cooperated with designers Alix Arto and Zhang Yihan to visit felt-making cooperatives in Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai to promote the research progress of their felt materials.
After a series of material experiments, Emma finally designed and made a model of pleated felt curtains.Felt material naturally gives curtains a simple and gentle texture and the function of reducing sound and light. While retaining the traditional characteristics of pleated felt technology, it lights up its new value with the help of modern design.