Karin Jeske, founder of Tesselle, brings over three decades of experience in product and material development to this year's Material Matters fair, part of the 2024 London Design Festival. With an undergraduate degree in textile design, Karin's career has spanned the creation of fabric products for interiors and apparel, ranging from bedding, beach, and bath products to upholstery, carpet tile, and window treatments. This deep expertise has informed her work for major manufacturers and retailers, and now, as the founder of Tesselle, she continues to push the boundaries of material innovation.
Material Matters, which occupied 5 floors at the Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf, is a fitting destination for Karin, given her lifelong passion for materials. The fair, known for showcasing the latest advancements in sustainable and innovative materials, gathered over 40 world-leading designers, makers, and manufacturers to highlight the transformative potential of new resources.
Karin’s textile background means that she views materials not just as functional components but as essential to shaping design and storytelling. Her work in developing finished products like upholstery and carpet tiles for major manufacturers gives her a unique perspective on the range of materials being showcased at Material Matters. As she explored the event, she was drawn to exhibits that demonstrated how creative material use could solve today’s design challenges.
Among the highlights that resonated with Karin was the work of Planq, a Dutch furniture brand using post-consumer textiles, such as denim and military uniforms, to create sustainable veneer and board materials. This approach, which blends circularity with high-quality design, reflects Karin’s own belief that aesthetics and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
Karin was also captivated by Goldfinger, a social enterprise that transforms felled trees from London into high-end furniture, and The Tyre Collective, which is addressing the issue of tire wear microplastics. These exhibits echoed Karin's understanding of the power of material intelligence to solve environmental challenges.
For Karin, this year’s Material Matters fair was more than just an exhibition—it was a convergence of ideas and innovations that speak to her journey as a designer, product developer, and founder. As she continues to lead Tesselle, which is known for its Cement Tiles and Breeze Blocks, Karin’s experience at the fair reinforces her commitment to integrating material innovation into beautiful, sustainable design solutions.