Celebrating trailblazing icons that despite their gender are revolutionising the industry with their own unique style and approach
In the realm of architecture and furniture design, women have long been the unsung heroes, silently shaping the way we interact with our living spaces yet often overlooked in the annals of design history.
Yet, despite the industry being dominated by the opposite sex, these icons prevailed while others were thriving, as they continue to influence and inspire generations to come.
It is said that “a house is made of bricks and beams, but a home is made of love and dreams”—often with a woman’s touch, and these female visionaries have definitely done just that by challenging conventions and redefining what it means to create in the world of furniture design.
Read more: 8 designing women: Meet the first ladies of Malaysian design
1. Eileen Gray
As a woman, Irish architect Eileen Gray never received the recognition she deserved as one of the pioneers of modernist architecture and furniture design until much later in her life.
Despite not fitting into the male-dominated circles of architects popular during the modernist era, Gray forged her own path, creating iconic furniture pieces that were both lightweight and functional while showcasing her mastery of artisanal techniques such as lacquering and fine cabinetmaking.
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