The Sira project explores seating through a specific practice: braiding. Braiding plays an essential role in the lives of many African and Afro-descendant women. More than an aesthetic practice, it is a moment of care, sisterhood, and transmission. Although braiding takes place in hair salons, it is also often practised at home, using dining chairs. As these seats are poorly suited to the practice, the long hours spent braiding can lead to constrained postures and prolonged discomfort. Bridging two cultures, this chair is the outcome of a study into use, ergonomics, and materiality, exploring how object design can support an everyday aesthetic ritual.
