Textiles and wellbeing: the new normal (Kvadrat)

Katie was approached to interview global textiles company Kvadrat’s Senior VicePresident of Products Charlotte Bastholmas for a live webinar to explore textiles and wellbeing in the wake of COVID-19.

All copy as provided to the company.

In the wake of COVID19, there is a perception that tactile, natural and porous materials like wood and fabrics are somehow less safe than hard, wipe-clean surfaces like plastic, glass and metal. However, the evidence simply doesn’t bear this out. As companies ready themselves for their employees’ return, health and safety concerns are high on the agenda–and rightly so. Social distancing and good hygiene practices are part of our new normal. However, in the maelstrom of a global health crisis, it is important that we don’t neglect mental health and wellbeing. Natural materials, such as wood and wool, not only offer the lowest survival time for the virus that causes COVID-19, but they can also help improve cognitive performance, creativity and mood. Stimulating the sense of touch through their tactility, they also make us feel more connected, trusting and generous–all important factors as employers seek to redefine the office as a hub for culture and collaboration.

Join design journalist Katie Treggiden in conversation with Kvadrat’s Senior VicePresident of Products Charlotte Bastholmas they explore how we can make sure the new normal is better than the one we’ve left behind.