In recent years, NeoCon — the design industry’s main contract furniture fair, held each spring at the historic Merchandise Mart building — has been joined by a second, concurrent Chicago fair, Design Days. While the latter had its biggest showing yet in the city’s Fulton Market district this June thanks to companies like Teknion and MillerKnoll, most of the year’s standout products still launched back at the Mart, where brands like Andreu World and Turf invested heavily in even bigger and better showrooms. Then again, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised to see the Windy City’s friendly design rivalry driving new ambition (not to mention sustainable ingenuity) — CEOs have always said that healthy competition breeds innovation.

Greener Paths

Eco-conscious products and materials that aim to make workspaces — and the world — a healthier place

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Knit One by Isomi

Returning to Chicago for the second time, British furniture brand Isomi debuted the innovative Knit One chair by London-based designer Paul Crofts. Employing 3D knitting technology on a lightweight metal frame, the modular lounge replaces traditional foam with air, which is as zero-waste as you can get. Arriving flat-packed, the voluminous seat is easy to assemble: Once the structure is bolted together, the knit sleeve slides right on. A modular system, Knit One also includes a straight ottoman and an angled component.

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Tumble by KFI Studios

While it may resemble natural stone, the Tumble tabletop is actually made from textile waste that has been diverted from landfill and carefully sorted, shredded and compressed with minimal binder. Developed by Union for KFI Studios, the table features a sculptural circle-within-a-square ash veneer base inspired by the laundry symbol for “tumble dry,” a playful nod to its recycled garment roots. The slotted design allows for flat-packing, further reducing its environmental footprint. Tumble is available in coffee and side table versions, in three wood finishes with flecked grey or black surfaces.

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BuzziReForm Brut by BuzziSpace

Inspired by the brutalist architecture of Belgian practitioner Constantin Brodzki — known for his use of prefabricated concrete modules — the BuzziReForm Brut acoustic panels introduced by BuzziSpace are made from mycelium, meaning they are 100 per cent biodegradable (and home-compostable) at end-of-life. Natural imperfections in the surface texture highlight the beauty of the organic material, and the 40-by-40-centimetre panels are offered in four pastel hues: Canyon (shown), Dune, Meadow and Lagoon.

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Able by Blå Station

Making its North American debut, the Able chair designed by Johan Lindau, Stefan Borselius and Thomas Bernstrand for Blå Station (through Scandinavian Spaces) is a marvelous example of deconstructable design: Every single component of the Bauhaus-esque chair — the tubular steel frame, tumbled zinc couplings and feet, and canvas or leather seat and back — can be disassembled, upgraded, replaced and recycled. Offered in two heights, with feet or castors and in a range of colourways, Able is built for longevity through both its construction and its sophisticated style.

Table Manners

Pint-sized laptop stations and boardroom-ready options alike offer new ideas for the office

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Una Collection by Nienkämper

An elegant entry to the height-adjustable table category, the Una collection by Modus ID for Nienkämper conceals its telescoping mechanism within a sculptural textile sleeve. Made from Flex-Knit using knit-to-shape technology, the fabric is seamlessly woven into its final shape rather than being cut and stitched, which reduces waste to almost zero. The ribbed elastic covering expands and contracts without altering its silhouette, while rigid oval rings at the top and bottom help to maintain the material’s integrity and tension no matter its height. Along with the conference table, Una includes an executive workstation, smaller meeting tables and a wall-mounted media table.

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Ojai by Martin Brattrud

With her Ojai occasional table collection for Martin Brattrud, designer Alyssa Coletti draws attention to the beauty of architectural form. The graceful curves of the metal framework are revealed through the glass surface — which can be clear, smoked or bronze — while the delicately rounded feet can be solid wood, brushed aluminum or powder-coated to match the legs, introducing an opportunity to create a material transition. Offered in six variations (four coffee tables and two end tables), the series is further elevated by the option to select dichroic or coloured glass for the tabletop.

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Lady Ev by Three H

Designed by Winnipeg’s Matthew Kroeker, the Lady Ev table from Three H brings a distinct personality to workspaces. Its cantilevered and rectilinear form is made from the brand’s laminate off-cuts and sits on a rounded metal plate for stability. The well-proportioned table is available in two heights and a range of colourways.

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Figure by Teknion

Designed by Alyssa Coletti to be “warm and welcoming,” the Figure collection for Teknion focuses on the beauty of natural wood. Rounded corners and a lovely cove edge lend softness to the structures while an array of base styles and surface formats and sizes make the tables scalable to a variety of spaces. Diagonally arranged support panels allow everyone to fit comfortably, and intentionally designed power modules follow the curve of the scooped edges to integrate seamlessly. The comprehensive series also includes sideboards and credenzas (the latter of which will be released in early 2026).