Kairos

From otherwise wasted wool and textiles to modular sofas

Kairos Furniture transforms otherwise wasted Dutch wool and recycled textiles into modular sofas designed to stay in use for decades. By combining circular materials with repairable, washable, and adaptable design, they focus less on replacing furniture and more on keeping materials, comfort, and value in circulation.

READ THEIR FULL STORY

ONCE UPON A TIME...

CHECK THEIR AWESOME CREATIONS!

SHOW ME! SHOW ME! SHOW ME!

From rescued Dutch wool and recycled textiles to a modular circular sofa by Kairos | Waste Alchemists

About the alchemists

Behind Kairos are Joris and Eelco. In 2021, they noticed something odd: almost every sofa on the market was designed to become waste. Difficult to repair, impossible to adapt, and often cheaper to replace than to fix. Instead of accepting that logic, they decided to design a sofa that works more like a system than a product. One that respects materials, users, and time. Their shared belief is simple: consume less, and when you do consume, choose something that is built to last.

About the waste

Kairos works with materials that are often overlooked or undervalued. Dutch sheep wool that would otherwise be treated as waste, recycled PET textiles made from post-consumer plastic bottles, and recycled textiles that get a second life as upholstery. Not everything they use is waste, and that choice is deliberate. Circularity, for Kairos, means choosing materials that perform well over time and can be reused again.

About the process

The Kairos process starts with a question, not a material: how do we keep this sofa in use for as long as possible? That question shapes every decision. From designing modular components that can be replaced or rearranged, to choosing a steel frame after lifecycle calculations showed it allowed better repairability without higher impact. Instead of producing everything themselves, they collaborate with specialists like Hollands Wol Collectief and i-did, each adding expertise to the system.

About their creations

Kairos creates sofas in many forms: benches, corner sofas, lounge sofas, chaise longues, and U-shaped setups. What makes them different is not the shape, but the logic behind it. Every sofa can grow, shrink, or change layout as life changes. Covers are washable, cushions refillable, parts replaceable, and materials traceable through a materials passport. Comfort and aesthetics come first, but never at the cost of longevity.

CHECK THEIR AWESOME CREATIONS!

SHOW ME! SHOW ME! SHOW ME!

A deposit system… for your sofa

Kairos treats sofas a bit like bottles with statiegeld. When a sofa no longer fits your life, you can return it. Not because it failed, but because its materials still have value. They buy it back, take it apart, and keep those materials in play. A deposit system for furniture that quietly asks the question: why don’t we design everything this way?