1 mins
Fashion statement
As much an accessory as a safe place for your instrument
‘My idea was to give the cases personality,’ saysn Andreas Kolar, maker of the XO Stringcase for violin, whose background is in fashion design. The new cases have eight different designs, while their internal constructions are identical. They are made of expanded polypropylene, a type of granulated foam which is expanded with steam. The company produced bespoke tools in order to use the material. ‘The resulting foam is very strong and stable. About 80 per cent of it is air and it is very light,’ says Kolar. Depending on the exterior design, the cases range from 1.6 to 1.8kg.
The top and bottom of the case’s interior are moulded to fit the violin. The instrument is secured in three places: at the chin rest, at the bridge and along the fingerboard. Carbon-fibre plates are also placed within the foam on either side of the bridge to reinforce the sensitive area. ‘The foam is a very good insulator for temperature and humidity,’ says Kolar. ‘And the waste is non-toxic.’ The case features a leather handle, three bow holders, an external sheet music pocket and a silky red instrument cover.
The shape of the case follows the contour of the violin, and Kolar suggests the shape ‘has movement’, likening it to a flame or sail. The exterior is made of a lightweight and water-resistant technical textile, which is used for bags by high-street fashion brands. The eight designs range from solid brown, black, blue and silver, to camouflage patterns and a scratched-leather aesthetic. ‘They’re not just different colours; the designs are for different tastes,’ says Kolar. ‘Maybe it matches what the person wears, or their hair colour. I don’t want it to be just a tool to carry your instrument, but a companion.’
XO Stringcase for violin from €895 email andreas@xkolar.com web www.xkolar.com
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