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What began as a simple experiment with leftover mohair silk yarn from a hand-knit scarf has evolved into a thoughtful exploration of knitted light objects. Amanda Thomé of Thomé Studio first turned her attention to lighting after repeatedly looking at a basic IKEA lamp in her home and imagining how its shade might be reinterpreted in knit.
Having previously made knit cushions and seat pads, though never commercially, Thomé approached the lamp as a playful material study. She removed the original fabric from the metal frame and began working directly onto the ring structure. The process quickly shifted from experimentation to a focused investigation into light, tension and textile behaviour.
For Thomé, the lampshades are not separate from her fashion knitwear practice. Textile, she explains, is textile whether it exists on the body or within a space. The lamps represent an extension of her knitwear language, applied to an architectural object rather than a garment. The same sensitivity to structure, surface and fibre carries through, only the context changes.
The first pieces were developed in a mohair silk blend, selected for its distinctive response to light. Mohair’s halo becomes increasingly visible once illuminated. When the light is off, the knitted surface appears more opaque and structured; when switched on, the halo softens the fabric and diffuses the glow. Thomé is currently exploring further brushing techniques to exaggerate this atmospheric effect.
While early iterations featured colourful marled yarns, more recent designs favour solid, comforting tones such as creams and muted greens. The studio intends to continue working primarily with natural fibres, reinforcing the tactile and material focus of the collection.
Construction is carried out in single jersey on a standard gauge manual Brother domestic knitting machine. Jersey has proven effective due to its ability to stretch evenly around the circular frame. Unlike garments, however, these pieces do not respond to body movement. Instead, the knitted fabric reacts to gravity and the fixed rigidity of the metal rings, resulting in a different behaviour of tension.
Panels are knitted flat and then hand-finished directly onto the wire structure. Thomé experiments with varying ring diameters within a single shade, allowing subtle sculptural shaping to emerge through controlled knit tension rather than heavy internal reinforcement.
The lampshades feel like a natural extension of the studio’s wider practice, albeit one that is more personal. Several pieces are installed in Thomé’s own apartment, serving as ongoing studies in how knitted structure can generate volume, softness and atmosphere within domestic spaces.
Thomé Studio
Thomé Studio is a Brooklyn-based knitwear design and development studio founded in Paris in 2020.
Thomé Studio works with small to mid-size brands to bring knitwear collections to life through creative direction, technical development, and production support.
“We stay hands-on, personal, and focused. That means fewer clients at a time, more collaboration, and better results. Currently taking on new projects,” says founder Amanda Thomé.
“We work with emerging brands building knitwear for the first time, small to mid-size teams growing an existing knit category, founders and designers looking for a thoughtful partner in the process.”
“From first sketch to final sample, we’re with you the whole way.”
Contact details
Amanda Thomé
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