Marc Thorpe is an American architect and industrial designer

Who is Marc Thorpe?
Marc Thorpe (born 1978) is an American architect and industrial designer, founder of Marc Thorpe Design in New York City (2010). He graduated from the University of Maryland (B.A. in Industrial Design, 2000) and Parsons School of Design (M.Arch with distinction, 2004). He is known for his innovative approach to design, combining architecture, industrial design and craftsmanship, with an emphasis on sustainability and precision. His work includes architecture, interiors, furniture, products, branding, and exhibition and retail design.

Textile industry affiliation
Marc Thorpe has worked with many brands that use textiles in their products, particularly in the contract and home furniture sectors. Key textile industry affiliations include:
Kvadrat: Thorpe works with the Danish company Kvadrat, a leader in the production of high-quality upholstery fabrics (similar to Gabriel). Kvadrat supplies textiles for his furniture designs, which are characterized by minimalist design and eco-friendly materials. His design studio emphasizes a systemic approach, where fabrics play a key role in aesthetics and functionality.

Moroso: As one of the youngest designers at Italian brand Moroso, Thorpe has created furniture collections such as the Husk chair and nature-inspired tables using contract fabrics (often from suppliers such as Kvadrat). Moroso collaborates with textile companies, which connects Thorpe to this sector.

Bernhardt Design: Thorpe has designed furniture for the brand in which textiles play a significant role, such as in the upholstery of chairs and sofas.

Horm: For Italian brand Horm, he created the Tout Le Jour collection (sofas, armchairs, tables) and the Lily tables, where textiles and their quality are an integral part of the design.

Project Characteristics
Minimalism and Functionality: Thorpe designs furniture and interiors with a focus on simplicity but attention to detail, which requires high-quality fabrics, such as those produced by Gabriel and Camira.

Sustainability: His projects, such as off-grid homes in New York and Uganda, use sustainable materials, including recycled textiles, which aligns with the philosophy of companies such as Camira (e.g. ocean plastic fabrics) and Gabriel (Gabriel Loop program).

Interdisciplinarity: Thorpe combines architecture with industrial design, meaning that the textiles in his designs must meet both aesthetic and technical requirements (e.g. fire resistance, durability), similar to Gabriel and Camira’s products.

Key Textile Projects
Husk Chair for Moroso: A chair with vegetable-inspired upholstery, where textiles play a key role in communicating the concept.

Unity Collection for Venini: Although the project focuses on glass and African craftsmanship, it shows Thorpe’s ability to combine different materials, which may include textiles in other projects.

Tout Le Jour for Horm: A collection of upholstered furniture, where the quality of the fabrics is key to comfort and aesthetics.

Dakar Houses for Moroso M’Afrique: A design for earthenware houses for Moroso artisans, where textiles may be used in the interior design.

Summary
Marc Thorpe is a versatile designer whose work in the furniture and architecture sectors intersects with the textile sector through collaborations with brands such as Kvadrat, Moroso and Horm. His interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on craftsmanship make him a significant player in the sector, complementing the offer of textile companies.