Rondina Al’m’ar

Three Portuguese companies create Rondina Al’m’ar, a chair that combines traditional carpentry, contemporary textile art, and manual tapestry with materials regenerated from fishing nets

The Rondina Al’m’ar chair is born from a partnership between Rondinart, Craft Gardens, and Tapetes Beiriz to create a piece that transforms tradition into innovation. The wooden structure, tassels made with regenerated ECONYL yarn, and Portuguese tufting surface form an object that functions simultaneously as furniture and sensory sculpture.

The project began with an invitation from Rondinart to designer Marta Ramada Leite, from Craft Gardens, to develop the concept and textile expression of a new piece. To expand the dimension of Portuguese tufting, Craft Gardens invited Tapetes Beiriz, a factory with almost a century of history.

Structure and Materials

Rondinart produced the chair’s structural base, applying traditional Portuguese carpentry techniques through proportion, solidity, and formal elegance. The wood serves as a foundation that allows for the harmonious integration of textile language.

Marta Ramada Leite’s Vision and ECONYL

Craft Gardens, under the creative direction of Marta Ramada Leite, signs the artistic layer with tassels created manually in ECONYL, yarn regenerated from fishing nets abandoned in the oceans and industrial nylon waste.

ECONYL represents a fundamental innovation in the sustainable textile universe: through a process of depolymerization and chemical regeneration, residual nylon is transformed into virgin yarn of identical quality to conventional material, but with drastically reduced environmental impact. Each tassel produced by Craft Gardens adds movement, rhythm, and texture to the piece, conferring character and emotional dimension rare in the furniture universe.

Marta Ramada Leite argues that sustainability in design should not compromise aesthetics or sensory quality. On the contrary, the designer believes that regenerated materials can elevate the emotional narrative of pieces, creating objects with history, purpose, and environmental consciousness integrated into their essence.

Name and Concept

The name Al’m’ar is born from the fusion of ‘alma’ (soul) and ‘mar’ (sea), reflecting the essence of the piece. The fragmented spelling suggests waves, breathing, and pauses, echoing the movement of the tassels and the lightness that inspires the creation.

Inspired by the Portuguese coast, the chair transports freshness, fluidity, and the presence of the ocean to the design universe. The biophilic dimension — the connection between art, nature, and well-being — reinforces the mission to reinterpret tradition with contemporary language and create pieces with soul.

The use of regenerated fishing nets in ECONYL creates a direct conceptual connection with the sea, transforming ocean waste into an aesthetic element that celebrates the very source of inspiration for the piece.

About the Companies

Rondinart A reference in contemporary Portuguese carpentry, it combines traditional techniques with original design and meticulous production. It specializes in creating custom furniture and structures, distinguishing itself through precision, durability, and the discreet elegance of its pieces.

Craft Gardens Founded by Marta Ramada Leite with the goal of elevating Portuguese textile tradition through emotional and sustainable aesthetics, it creates suspended sculptures that reinterpret the ancestral art of tassels. The designer privileges materials such as Portuguese cotton and regenerated ECONYL®, affirming commitment to conscious luxury, circular economy, and material regeneration. Craft Gardens distinguishes itself through an approach that unites contemporary craftsmanship, material innovation, and environmental responsibility without compromising artistic expression.

Tapetes Beiriz / Beiriz Rugs With almost a century of history since 1919, the artisanal factory is an icon of Portuguese tapestry. Recognized for the exclusive technique of the Beiriz manual knot, it has become a symbol of quality, authenticity, and national savoir-faire.

Website: https://www.rondinart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rondinart/