Muirhead and Bridge of Weir Reframe Luxury at the London Design Festival 2024
London, UK, Tuesday 10 September 2024 – Muirhead, a benchmark in high performance leather for aviation and passenger transport, and commercial upholstery applications and Bridge of Weir, the world’s leading supplier of fine automotive leather to premium car brands proudly announce their joint sponsorship of the innovative installation, ‘Un-hide: Reframing Luxury,’ on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) South Kensington during London Design Festival 2024.
Designed by Kusheda Mensah of Modular by Mensah, this artistic installation re-evaluates leather’s role and challenges traditional perceptions of luxury and sustainability. ‘Un-hide: Reframing Luxury’ draws parallels between the memory of human skin and the natural features of leather, exploring leather's lifecycle and highlighting it as one of the most sustainable and ecological materials available.
By focusing on the beauty and exclusivity of the natural characteristics of leather, ‘Un-hide: Reframing Luxury’ showcases the authenticity and individuality of each piece and how these characteristics tell a story, making every hide a reflection of its origins and journey.
It challenges the conventional notion of perfection in luxury, highlighting that true luxury lies in embracing the genuine and natural qualities that should be celebrated through design, materiality and craftsmanship. The installation aims to invite visitors to rethink luxury through a lens of authenticity and sustainability.
Debra Choong, Design Manager at Scottish Leather Group said: “Embracing the natural features of leather is key to appreciating its true potential. Leather, when responsibly sourced and manufactured, stands out as one of the most sustainable materials available.
Its unique natural characteristics not only celebrate its inherent authenticity but also highlight its longevity. By acknowledging and valuing these qualities, we can redefine luxury to be more aligned with sustainability and craftsmanship. Our commitment is to demonstrate how natural leather, with its rich story and environmental benefits, can lead the way in contemporary design.”
Since 1840, Muirhead has been the choice of architects and designers worldwide, renowned for delivering unmatched quality, performance, beauty, and durability. Muirhead’s fine Scottish leather is specified and supplied for a wide range of applications, including commercial and residential interiors, marine upholstery, and bespoke luxury consumer goods projects.
Bridge of Weir and Muirhead have the lowest carbon footprint of any leather maker in the world and adhere to strict environmental standards offering a model for sustainable leather. The raw hides used to make Bridge of Weir and Muirhead leather are always sourced from responsible local suppliers with 100% traceability, as certified by the UK Cattle Tracing Scheme, with the highest standards of animal welfare and without risk of deforestation.
Bridge of Weir leather is the natural material of choice for the world’s leading automotive premium brands, including Aston Martin, McLaren, Jaguar Land Rover and Polestar, thanks to its quality, durability, versatility, and sustainability.
‘Un-hide: Reframing Luxury’ will be on display at the V&A South Kensington from Saturday, 14 September until Sunday, 13 October 2024, located in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, Room 50b. Entry is free.
Visit the V&A to explore the artistry behind sustainable leather and redefine your view of luxury.
