My new festival essential-The "Chairless" Chair by Vitra

Last month at Salone del Mobile in Milan we saw some great designs, but this one was definitely a class favorite. The “Chairless” strap by Alejandro Aravena for Vitra gives extra support and comfort to those who rest in the cross legged position. According to Vitra, Chairless relieves the back and the thigh muscles from pressure, while the arms and hands which are needed for support when sitting cross legged are not used to support our legs, instead, they could be used for other tasks such as reading, writing, eating, drinking or whatever else you can imagine as your hands are now free. The strap is made of wear-resistant polyamide and is available in four color combinations.

My classmate Bay sporting the look at Vitra in Milan

This genius design has roots too-- buy it and be philanthropic! Aravena was inspired by a similar sitting strap commonly used by the Ayoreo Indians. The nomadic tribe living in the Gran Chaco region (border region between Paraguay and Bolivia) has employed such textile straps as a sitting aid for centuries. As a sign of gratitude to the original inventors, a portion of the proceeds from Chairless will go to the non-profit Foundation for Paraguayan Indian Communities, which directly supports the Ayoreo Indians--AWESOME!

With festival season now in full swing this is a must-plus its super comfy and fits nicely in a camelback! Check out the online store.