Mimi Sofa by Philippe Malouin
Mimi Sofa is British-Canadian designer Philippe Malouin's first design for HAY – an everyday sofa with a generous central cushion that invites you to settle in. Gently raised edges enclose the seat, drawing a subtle line between structure and softness. Available in sizes from one to three seats, as well as an ottoman, Mimi comes in a selection of high-quality fabrics with matching square or rectangular cushions. We visited Malouin in his studio in Hackney, London, to learn how the design took shape.
Tailored removable upholstery falls over the frame like a softly draped blanket, precise stitching along the upper edges giving way, gradually, to a looser skirted base – a quiet shift from tailored to relaxed within a single silhouette. It's a construction built for daily use, holding its shape through hours of everyday sitting, wherever that use takes place.
'This is very much an everyday sofa,' says Malouin. 'The kind you spend an entire Sunday on or curl up on to watch a good movie with a friend or a partner.'
The fully removable slipcover carries that same logic further, designed with longevity in mind and easy to renew over time. 'This is the most casual sofa we have, but it's also very precise,' says Rolf Hay, HAY Co-founder and Creative Director of Furniture & Lighting. 'It's quite an achievement how sharp it is, while also being soft, gentle and comfortable.'
Mimi with and without cover
About Philippe Malouin
Born in Canada in 1982, Philippe Malouin is a British-Canadian product designer and interior architect based in London, where he lives and works. He studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven, the École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle in Paris, and the Université de Montréal. After graduating, he founded his studio in 2008 and has also taught at the Royal College of Art in London. His practice moves between functional clarity and a more experimental, sculptural approach, spanning furniture, art objects, and installations. Malouin has received several awards, including Wallpaper* Designer of the Year (2018), and his work has been exhibited internationally. For HAY, Philippe Malouin has designed the Mimi Sofa.
