It’s often said that you cannot reinvent the wheel. However, when it comes to USM, a string of designer collaborations from Buchanan Studio to model turned footwear-label founder Armando Cabral have proved that there is no limit to reimagining its modular systems.
‘USM x Armando Cabral’ is a five-piece furniture collection that brings an ancient West African cultural symbol to modern homes. On show at an exhibition titled ‘Nkyinkyim’ (pronounced ‘nn-chin-chim’) at the USM showroom in New York until July, it features two exciting firsts for the Swiss furniture giant, with the introduction of an armchair and a bed.
Released under Armando Cabral’s recently launched homeware branch A Casa, the range’s design and name reference a snaking Adinkra symbol created by the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the early 1800s. ‘“Nkyinkyim” is a profound metaphor for community-building and the creative process,’ the Guinea-Bissau native explains. ‘It embodies resilience, adaptability and the power of initiative – values that drive both artistic expression and meaningful change.’
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According to traditional local proverbs, the symbol is designed to reflect life’s winding journey. As well as the lounge chair and the asymmetrical platform bed, there is a valet wardrobe stand with a full-length mirror, a side table with two handy surfaces for storage and the grand hero piece, the ‘Nkyinkyim’ bookshelf.
‘The bookshelf was the most intuitive choice from the start,’ recalls the 44-year-old, who is now based in Brooklyn. ‘It felt like the perfect representation of my concept, offering both functionality and a strong visual narrative.’ At 2.29 metres tall, the towering storage unit echoes the unique shape of the Adinkra symbol, representing the power of ‘collective growth’ and the opportunities for connection afforded by intertwining paths.
Every item in the collection is made in Switzerland using only USM’s recognisable chrome-silver steel components and can be customised in any of the brand’s 14 colour options. USM’s unpretentious, industrial-design language is softened by Cabral’s textile savoir-faire, in the handwoven armchair cushions, for example, which are upholstered in a fabric by Rruka. ‘The beauty of this collaboration lies in integrating cultural symbols with the dynamic adaptability of USM’s modular system,’ says Cabral. ‘By weaving these elements together, we are demonstrating how timeless cultural values can inspire and inform contemporary design.’ shop.armando-cabral.com; us.usm.com
