The Knit One Chair challenges industry norms by showing that comfort, modularity and low-impact thinking can coexist in one compelling product
OnOffice sits down with Paul Crofts, design director at Isomi, to find out more about its ground-breaking design.
OnOffice: Can you explain how the Knit One Chair is made exactly?
Paul: Knit One is made almost entirely of air and 3D–knitted textile, a technology more commonly used in ergonomic task chairs. But instead of applying it as a mesh surface, we pushed the process much further. The goal was to use 3D knitting not just to wrap the chair, but to generate its full volume. The fabric is knitted to the exact finished dimensions of each module, so there’s zero waste – no cutting, no glue, no foam. It comes straight off the machine ready to use.
The fabric, supplied by Camira, is part of the SEAQUAL® Collection, which is composed of 10 per cent marine plastic and 90 per cent post-consumer PET from land sources. Structurally, the fabric is held in tension over a lightweight metal frame, which is designed for flat-pack shipping and simple on-site assembly. This set-up drastically reduces the product’s carbon footprint.
By replacing foam with air through precise shaping and internal support, the design gains its form from the stretch and tension of the knit. The ribbed texture was developed to give it the solidity and tactility of traditional upholstery, but with none of the environmental issues. When the modules are arranged together, they read as a sculptural mass, visually generous, yet materially minimal.
Typically, 3D knitting requires structural support at specific intervals, which is why it’s rarely used in domestic lounge furniture. But in commercial environments, where seating zones are more defined, it works brilliantly. Knit One plays with these spatial definitions, using fabric density and curvature to subtly guide how the product is used.
OnOffice: What were the challenges when creating a piece in this way?
Paul: The biggest challenge was radically reducing material use and waste without compromising on comfort, structure or visual appeal. With Knit One, we aimed to strip things back to their most essential elements. That started with the 3D–knitted sleeve, produced with zero–waste yarns made from post–consumer marine plastic. Each chair doesn’t just avoid waste – it helps to remove it from the environment, diverting hundreds of plastic bottles from oceans.
Designing a structural textile that could hold its shape and provide comfort without foam, glue or multiple layers required completely rethinking how lounge seating is made. The knit drops over a lightweight metal frame and is held in precise tension. This not only delivers form and function, but also enables flat-pack shipping and simple, local assembly.
Another key challenge was commercial viability. Sustainable materials often come at a higher cost, but we saw that as a creative opportunity. There’s a growing appetite for honest, pared-back aesthetics and that aligns perfectly with the ethos of Knit One. The chair doesn’t hide how it’s made. Instead, it embraces its structure, making it part of the visual language.
OnOffice: Please tell us more about the fabric.
Paul: The fabric is part of Camira’s SEAQUAL® Collection and is made from 100 per cent post–consumer recycled polyester. Each metre contains the equivalent of up to 35 recycled PET bottles, actively diverting harmful material from oceans and giving it new purpose in a high–performance textile.
Despite its origins, the fabric feels far from industrial – it’s soft, textured and tactile, with a surprising warmth. We developed a ribbed surface to give it visual weight and a sense of upholstery-like depth, while also enhancing its structure.
Every element of the chair is designed with circularity in mind. The structural knit sleeves can be easily replaced or refreshed, extending the product’s lifespan. The supporting metal frame is fully recyclable and the entire system is built for disassembly and reuse.
OnOffice: How do you envision the chair being used?
Paul: Knit One was designed specifically with contract environments in mind – places like offices, lobbies, lounges and co–working spaces where durability, modularity, and sustainability really matter. Its lightweight construction and flat–pack design make it ideal for spaces that require flexible, scalable solutions without compromising on design quality.
The modular nature of the system allows it to adapt to a wide range of layouts. It includes a lounge chair, a straight ottoman module and an angled module, which can be combined in various configurations to suit open-plan settings, quiet corners or high-traffic areas. Each element is fully reversible, offering even greater flexibility in how it’s installed and used.
View Isomi’s Knit One Chair here
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