There's a moment in every piece of exterior where the choice of material is no longer technical but aesthetic.
The origin is practical. External furniture coexists with direct sun, rain, temperature variation and, on the coast, tidal. The nautical rope responds to all this without losing color or elasticity and allows a braid that ventilates, drains water and dries quickly. None of this is a detail: it is what separates a piece that lasts a season from one that lasts for years.
From function to design
What transformed the rope into language was the way to tie. Each collection develops its own pattern the continuous spiral of the x0>BIO, the closed plot of the x1>VIENA, the vertical rhythm of the x2>RIPADA. These are drawing decisions made on the bench, wire by wire, by someone who knows the exact tension that each plot asks for.
That's also why the pieces don't come out of the same mold. Two chairs of the same line share the same structure and pattern, but they keep the mark of who made them.
Choosing the plot
In practice, the choice of rope changes the character of the piece. The round rope gives marked volume and shade. The slim approaches the wires and creates a more continuous surface. The sleek ribbon widens the stroke and leaves the drawing more graphic. The elastic accompanies the body and responds better to prolonged use.
For a design, it's worth thinking about this choice as you think about upholstered fabric: it defines texture, visual weight, and shape as the piece talks to the rest of the environment.