‘The social fabric of dining’ reimagines traditional table settings - napkins and tablecloths - not just as decorative elements, but as tools for fostering interaction. Stemming from research into supper clubs and the aesthetics of dining experiences, these social events often promote exclusivity creating a highly institutionalised environment for an artistic elite with disposable income.

In collaboration with Refettorio Geneva, a restaurant offering full meals to those who cannot afford them, ‘The social fabric of dining’ transforms table linens into a canvas for information and connection. By designing napkins in the form of a bib-placemat hybrid, they take the concept a step further; physically and literally connecting diners to the table, the tableware, and to one another. Once a week for five weeks, a table of diners at Refettorio used and tested the napkins, creating a collaborative and communal design process for making changes or updates to them.

‘The social fabric of dining’ seeks to disrupt the conventional consumer relationship by making the invisible labor of Refettorio behind every meal - sourcing, preparation, fermentation - impossible to ignore and turn it into a shared labor. Each element on the napkin plays a role in making the textiles not just decorative, but interactive; encouraging touch, curiosity, and exchange.

The use of textile techniques for this project draws a deliberate connection between the care work involved in cooking and hosting and the traditional craftsmanship of textiles, both historically feminized forms of labor. By centering these often-overlooked practices, ‘The social fabric of dining’ reclaims them as essential to the dining experience. Finally, as with any designed object, these table settings shape how we engage with our environment - underscoring that design is never neutral.

By weaving together visibility, participation, and care, this project challenges the exclusivity of fine dining and reclaims the table as a space of genuine exchange.