Posted by boris popma
on April 13, 2026
At i-did, we transform old workwear and post-consumer textiles into new felt. We do not see waste as an endpoint, but as a beginning. Artist Iris Nijenhuis discovered the potential of this material and developed it into innovative textile art. With her modular, tactile installations, she demonstrates that conscious design and aesthetics go hand in hand.
Textile art with i-did felt: the work of Iris Nijenhuis
Iris exhibited her work with i-did felt at several leading events:
Dutch Design Week 2024 - TAKE PART
An interactive textile artwork in which visitors actively contributed to a growing installation, based on themes such as social and local production. By asking visitors to choose one of four viewpoints and add a puzzle piece in that color to the installation, both an intriguing object and a kind of ‘visual statistic’ reflecting the visitors' opinions were created.
Material District & BIG ART 2025
Here, Iris presented the result of this ‘visual statistic’, which provided interesting insights into the themes and allowed her, as the maker, to draw her own conclusions.
For BIG ART, she transformed the modular installation into a new, spatial composition that highlights the flexibility and scalability of her system.
The TAKE PART project is centered on collaboration with the day activity program of Abrona. Clients with an intellectual disability are actively involved in the making process through this collaboration, making a meaningful contribution to high-quality design. With this project, Iris takes another step in her practice: a deliberate shift towards larger interior applications, where social impact and design quality come together. The goal is to establish sustainable collaborations and commissions in which this inclusive working method is an integral part of the production process.
Carpet Diem Paris 2025
For Carpet Diem in Paris, Iris, together with an intern from the Industrial Design Engineering program, designed an artwork using a particularly new modular system. This monumental work measuring 2 x 3.3 meters combines responsible material use with innovative techniques. For example, she used our i-did felt in combination with 3D knits from the deadstock collection of BYBORRE.
The new modular system consists of various shapes that, as always, can be connected like a puzzle without needles or thread. One of them is designed using ‘tessellation’, so that no material remains after laser cutting.
Broeinest Amsterdam
The work she exhibited in Paris can be seen until May in "The Showcase" at BROEINEST ADAM. An inspiring materials library for interior professionals.
Who is Iris Nijenhuis?
Iris Nijenhuis is an Amsterdam-based designer and maker who approaches textiles as a constructive and form-giving system. With a background in fashion and product design, she developed her own distinctive technique in which fabrics are cut into modular elements using a laser cutter and then assembled by hand without stitches or glue. This method forms the foundation of her practice and results in wearable and spatial structures that can be adapted, personalized, repaired, and reassembled. Each work is created through an intensive, almost puzzle-like assembly process that combines material knowledge, precision, and craftsmanship.
Her wearable accessories are sold worldwide in concept stores, museum shops, and other locations, and are often developed as limited editions for specific exhibitions. Through DIY workshops, she teaches others to discover the possibilities of her playful modular technique.
Why designer Iris chooses i-did felt
For her ‘wearables’, she is very dependent on specific types of textiles because of the technique. While she can sometimes upcycle them from discarded garments, she is limited to new textiles for her reproducible collection. With her new focus on interiors, this other material brings different possibilities, and i-did felt is particularly well suited for this.
The material:
- Provides strength and flexibility
- Has a rich, tactile appearance
- Is made from recycled textiles
- Supports conscious and social design
This makes it a strong foundation for installations, interior applications, and autonomous artworks.
“With i-did felt, I can scale up my modular way of working to interior applications without compromising on material, appearance, or the making process. It is strong and flexible, has a rich tactility, and aligns well with my focus on circular and social design,” says Iris Nijenhuis.
Discover the possibilities
Are you a designer, artist, or architect? Discover how i-did felt can enhance your project, from concept to realization: get in touch.
© Photography: Atelier Iris Nijenhuis
