Heron Preston's L.E.D. Studio has partnered with emerging designer Rishi Assar to create a furniture capsule that transforms New York City Department of Transportation infrastructure into functional seating. The collection debuted at Lichen during New York City Design Week, showcasing chairs and stools constructed entirely from reclaimed municipal road signs and regulatory signage.
The collaboration reflects Preston's broader creative philosophy, which merges streetwear sensibilities with design activism. By repurposing authentic NYC DOT materials, the capsule elevates overlooked urban infrastructure into gallery-worthy objects. This approach mirrors the designer's past work deconstructing institutional systems and transforming them into wearable and inhabitable forms.
Assar's involvement brings a fresh perspective to Preston's L.E.D. Studio operations. The emerging designer's work on reclaimed materials aligns with growing industry interest in circular design and salvage-based furniture. Rather than manufacturing new pieces, the collection sources real city property, creating one-of-a-kind objects that carry New York's literal street DNA.
The furniture pieces function as both practical seating and conceptual commentary. Each chair tells a story rooted in urban regulation and governance. The decision to use road signs specifically speaks to pedestrian experience and the visual language that structures daily city life. Viewers interact with objects they've passed countless times, now recontextualized as design objects worthy of contemplation.
This collaboration sits at the intersection of streetwear, design activism, and sustainability. Preston has consistently positioned his studio as a space where fashion thinking extends into domestic and institutional spheres. The L.E.D. Studio functions less as a traditional design studio and more as a creative laboratory where young talent explores materials, systems, and cultural critique.
The collection's presentation at Lichen signals growing momentum for design-forward collaborations that prioritize process and