DS-373 by De Sede

DS-373 is Alfredo Häberli’s homage to de Sede’s fascination with NECK leather. The folds in this five millimetre thick leather are so elegantly arranged that a single bullhide creates an understated, perfectly-formed sofa.

Alfredo Häberli’s basis and inspiration for the DS-373 was a small leather elephant found at a flea market. Made from a smooth piece of leather, it features an exquisitely folded design, giving it its three-dimensional shape.

Following his other designs for de Sede, including the smart, flexible structure (DS-480), the intelligent folds of the patchwork pattern (DS-88), and the fine craftsmanship in the three-dimensional stitched lines of the (DS-110), Alfredo Häberli’s vision for the DS-373 was to showcase the extremely thick yet supple NECK leather and the statement neck fold design.

When designing the DS-373, Häberli's primary goal was to develop an understated, stripped-back shape in a way which allowed the unique grain of the NECK leather to highlight the expression of the design. During this process, he focused on the pattern, scaled-down stitching and ergonomics. The model’s form is based on NECK leather’s natural qualities. This leather gives the product its signature expression and forms the basis of the design. Another of the model’s most impressive aspects is the way in which a single piece of leather fits seamlessly across all parts, the back and the seat cushions.

Time and again, Häberli manages to blend tradition and passion for form and functionality. With the DS-373's design, he has successfully written the next chapter in the NECK leather story, reflecting other masterpieces, such as the DS-47.