by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen
Historically, humans have had a complicated relationship with aging. Though the Japanese concept wabi-sabi embraces imperfections — as seen in the ceramic repair style kintsugi and in the patchwork of shoji screens — it seems there is a growing preference for newness and perfection. Do we see signs of wear as flaws to be erased or time stamps to be preserved?
At molo, we explore how objects can be designed to age in ways we find beautiful without losing their integrity. To grow richer with time, rather than obsolete. In treasuring the slow evolution of materials, we invite longevity, and with it, sustainability, into daily life.
the beauty that comes with age
Is aging a decline or just another form of change? It’s evident that certain changes unsettle us, whereas others we cherish. Scuffs and dents can represent thoughtless use, yet the deepening grain of wood or soft fade of denim can make a piece more valuable. When change is graceful, we welcome it; when it feels accidental, we resist it. Regardless, what we call “wear and tear” is often just the visible record of an object’s life, the evidence of touch and time.
Many of molo’s pieces are shaped by this tension. With softwall, we’ve refined details over the years to extend its life: adding a subtle radius at the lower corners to prevent curling, and reimagining the handles to reduce strain on the ends. Early iterations made from tissue paper would gradually yellow, almost as if steeped in tea. However, clients express affection for this change, noting how they’ve aged alongside them. Eventually, we discontinued the tissue softwall in favour of more robust papers, but those early versions are remembered fondly as part of softwall’s story.
designing for longevity
When designing for longevity, we look closely at how pieces evolve over time. From living with pieces ourselves to third-party UV analysis, we observe the living quality each object takes on when placed in the world. Though we appreciate how certain colours embrace change (a brown paper fades softly in the sun while a vivid green loses its yellow to become blue), we select materials with the highest lightfastness rating, preserving each meticulously chosen hue.
aging as a storyteller
How can we be more open to how materials change? A pair of denim or a leather bag deepening in colour can be seen as more beautiful or valuable. Yet we often discard things before they can gather that richness, or buy them pre-worn, skipping the story altogether.
We believe softseating in particular becomes more beautiful as it ages. The molo object most affected by continued use, the slight crushing on the surface becomes an aesthetic component. Catching the light in variegated ways, a faceted pattern emerges that is reminiscent of komorebi, bringing us back to the forest. Witnessing this textural evolution, we remember the material’s origins: paper began as the tree and now takes on its likeness again. The story unfolds based on how the object is used.
Aging is one of the greatest adventures we are fortunate to experience. When you allow your objects to age alongside you, it’s a reminder that none of us escape time and all of us are better for it.
