Water hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a beautiful, natural material used in various Uniqwa pieces due to its coarse texture and warm colour tone.

The environmentally conscious material is a fast-growing, invasive weed sustainably harvested from waterways and transformed into decorative pieces and furnishings.  

Prior to harvesting, the weed forms dense mats on the water surface, preventing light and oxygen from entering the water, causing a detrimental impact on surrounding ecosystems.

The lightweight material is not suitable for full outdoor spaces as the outdoor elements can affect the furniture's colour and structure, however, our Polyhyacinth products are.

Quick-dry foam

Our quick-dry foam is a high-performance material ideal for high-traffic areas, commercial and outdoor spaces due to its durability and resilience. The foam's open-cell structure allows moisture to drain quickly, allowing our cushions to dry quickly, all whilst protecting it against mould growth.

Rattan 

Our love of texture and warm tones is often featured in our designs through the use of rattan. The sustainable and fibrous material is harvested from the vines of the rattan plant within Indonesian plantation forests, and then transformed into beautiful one-of-a-kind furniture pieces and design elements. The outer layer of the rattan pole can be peeled back and used for flat weaving and wrapping, whereas the core of the rattan pole is used predominantly in more extensive design elements and for structural support.   

Our rattan pieces come in various neutral tones and colours, depending on their finishing. Naturally, rattan is soft beige in colour but can also be found in a weathered brown tone. This weathered finishing occurs after the rattan is soaked in mud and natural minerals for weeks, adding a deep brown wash to the fibre before being woven into place. 

Rattan is the second-fastest-growing material (after willow), and it regenerates within five to seven years. There are more than 600 species of rattan, some of which can grow up to 100m in length, making it a highly sustainable material to use in furniture manufacturing. The types commonly featured in our designs are; Kubu, selimit, CL and Manao – each different due to their plantation location, size and purpose.

Kubu rattan

Kubu Rattan is a thin species of rattan that grows abundantly in lush Indonesian forests. Once harvested and left to dry out, kubu appears beige and is then naturally stained using organic mud to achieve a soft grey colour often referred to as kubu grey.

Selimit rattan

Selimit rattan is an extremely thin species of rattan that is left unprocessed and offers a beautiful warm beige tone; alternatively, this rattan can also be soaked to achieve a grey tone.  

CL rattan

CL rattan is a thick and highly durable species of rattan that, during production, is soaked to allow the craftsman to hand-weave and bend the poles into the desired shape or pattern. Once the rattan dries, it hardens and sets into shape. 

Manao Rattan

Manao rattan is a thick, dense rattan species suitable for outdoor undercover spaces due to its strength, durability, and resistance to pests.  

Polyrattan

Polyrattan is a synthetic plastic fibre used to weave and wrap similarly to rattan. Available in any colour, polyrattan is a durable material that is less prone to UV damage and moisture damage, making it suitable for full outdoor spaces. 

Aluminium

Aluminium is one of the most widespread metals on earth. It’s a strong, silver-coloured material that is exceptionally lightweight and non-corrosive making it ideal for outdoor use. Often found in many of our dining, occasional and bar chairs due to its malleability, aluminium is a sustainable metal that can be recycled and used in a variety of ways.

Iron

Iron is a lustrous, malleable grey metal widely used in furniture construction due to its density, strength and sturdiness. This metal is not suitable for outdoor spaces due to its tendency to rust.