SOZO SPEAKS: Sean Brown, On Repeat
‘CD RUG” Curves by Sean Brown
Images by : Curves by Sean Brown
Designing with Play & Cultural Resonance
Sean Brown isn't just a designer; he's a cultural archivist and a visionary who reimagines everyday objects with a blend of nostalgia and innovation. As the creative mind behind Curves by Sean Brown, he transforms mundane items into art pieces that evoke emotion and conversation. His work isn’t about trends, it’s about building a world where memory, music, and design collide.
From Archival Ephemera to Iconic Homeware
While Curves might feel like the starting point for many, Brown’s journey reaches back further. From The Art of Reuse, a roaming vintage concept store, to his elevated sportswear line NEEDS&WANTS, to creative directing for Daniel Caesar, everything before Curves feels like part of an evolving mixtape. No track skipped, no past project deleted. In 2018, Brown hosted a solo exhibition in Toronto that showcased his process work and ephemera, offering a glimpse into the way he sees and archives the world around him.
That perspective carried forward into Curves by Sean Brown, a homeware brand rooted in the idea of democratising design and making culturally rich objects accessible. At the heart of it are the now-iconic CD rugs, hand-tufted wool tributes to albums that shaped a generation, a perfect example of how he turns cultural memory into tangible design.
Brown’s projects often take a more conceptual turn, like the Rimowa Trunk Lamp, a travel case reimagined as a light sculpture, and his playfully imposing Ego inflatable, which explores scale and presence. His work blurs the lines between design, art and cultural commentary, always reframing what home can hold.
@byseanbrown
@byseanbrown
A bold counterpoint to convention
For me, the Lil' Kim CD rug is more than decor. In a world where women are often told to be quiet, to diminish themselves, this rug is a bold counterpoint.
Every time I glance at it, I hear the opening beats of "Queen Bitch" from Hard Core, an anthem of defiance and confidence. That spirit lives in this rug.
It’s been with me as my body has grown into its natural, curvier state, something I’m still learning to embrace. Selling vintage can feel tricky when so much of what you see in this world is made for smaller bodies, and even pieces from my own collection don’t always fit the way they used to. But I’ve started to see that as an opportunity, to rework, to reinvent, to find new ways to wear what I love.
The rug reminds me to lean into that. To let myself be seen, even when it feels uncomfortable.
The response? It’s been unexpectedly soft, generous. The community around me lifts me up, makes me feel more at home in my own skin like the space I was afraid to take up was always mine to claim.
At home, the Lil’ Kim CD rug lives with my Sozo pieces
Inflatable Furniture: A Playful Reimagining
Brown’s creativity doesn’t sit still. His Ego Collection, a line of inflatable furniture, challenges the traditional idea of what homeware should be. It’s functional, yes, but it’s also playful, ironic, and a little provocative.
In Sumiko Wilson’s SSENSE piece, Brown talks about how Austrian artist Erwin Wurm, known for his whimsical, oversized sculptures, gave him permission to be a little stupid, a little playful. That influence shows up in these inflatables, design that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still commands attention.
This playful approach is something I carry into my own space. The rug, the fits, the little ways I experiment, it all feels like part of that same ethos: design as play, as permission.
Hypebeast Visits: Sean Brown’s Curves Showroom
Artwork by: By Elliot Santiago
The Philosophy of Not Deleting
One of the things I admire most about Brown is his commitment to evolution over reinvention. There’s this moment in the SSENSE interview where he talks about how people, especially artists, love to wipe their Instagram feeds clean, start fresh. But Brown resists that. “I don't always want to feel like I'm someone new so I don't like who I was. I think instead of trying to hide the past or delete it, it’s better to just let things rock. Evolution is so much iller than a full-out rebrand.”
That philosophy has stuck with me. I’m learning to move away from perfectionism, to let things be messy, real, and to let my whole journey stay visible.
Austin reading, lounging beside my Lil' Kim CD rug
Balance: Issey Miyake Pouch, Lil’ Kim CD rug
My Sean Brown Wish List
Brown’s work is part of my daily rhythm now, woven into my space and grounding me. But I can already see it going further. As I grow Sozo into a space that blends archive with contemporary designers, collaborating with him feels inevitable. I imagine his pieces blended in with the vintage and contemporary names that inspire me. Until then, I’ll keep treasuring my Lil’ Kim rug, keep showing up in front of the camera, leaning into the process. Evolution doesn’t need a rebrand.
The EGO Chair by Curves by Sean Brown
Curves By Sean Brown at ComplexCon
WORDS: