Julio Torres Debuts “All Other Passports” Furniture Collection Inspired by New York City Arrival

TITLE: Julio Torres Debuts "All Other Passports" Furniture Collection Inspired by New York City Arrival
SLUG: julio-torres-sabai-all-other-passports-collection
EXCERPT: Actor and director Julio Torres collaborates with furniture company Sabai on a collection that captures the experience of moving to and hosting in New York City, featuring pieces like the Landing Daybed and Arrivals Screen.
CATEGORY: design-culture
TAGS: Julio Torres, Sabai, furniture design, New York City, interior design, product design, design debut
SEO_TITLE: Julio Torres Makes Design Debut with "All Other Passports" Furniture Collection for Sabai
SEO_DESCRIPTION: Explore Julio Torres' first foray into furniture design with the "All Other Passports" collection for Sabai, inspired by the immigrant experience and the act of welcoming newcomers to New York City.
MEDIA_QUERY: Julio Torres Sabai All Other Passports furniture collection Landing Daybed Arrivals Screen New York City
IMAGE_ALT: Landing Daybed from the All Other Passports collection by Julio Torres and Sabai, featuring a stainless-steel arched base and light blue upholstery.

Julio Torres, known for his work in film and television, has made his design debut with the "All Other Passports" collection, a collaboration with US furniture company Sabai. This new line of furniture draws inspiration from the profound experience of moving to New York City and the subsequent act of welcoming others. The collection, which includes a daybed, a screen, and a side table, aims to capture the essence of transition, accommodation, and the "passing of the torch" to newcomers.

The genesis of the collection stems from the personal immigration journeys of both Torres, who moved to the US from El Salvador, and Sabai founder Phantila Phataraprasit, who arrived from Thailand. This shared experience provided a fertile ground for exploring themes of arrival, establishing oneself in a new place, and the desire to offer hospitality to those following a similar path. Torres articulated this sentiment, stating, "We very organically landed on this idea of coming to New York for the first time, and the memory of that. And then having the collection be like a passing of the torch – now you are the host and now you welcome other people."

Key facts

• Feature: Detail
• Designer: Julio Torres
• Brand: Sabai
• Collection Name: All Other Passports
• Inspiration: Moving to and hosting in New York City
• Key Pieces: Landing Daybed, Arrivals Screen, Personal Items side table

New York City Context

The collection is deeply rooted in the New York City experience, reflecting the city's role as a magnet for individuals seeking new beginnings. Torres's personal memories of finding a place to stay upon his arrival in the city fueled the concept of the Landing Daybed. This piece is designed as an ode to the couch that provided him with initial refuge, embodying the idea of offering a welcoming space to visitors. The daybed's design features a stainless-steel arched base, a subtle nod to the iconic bridges connecting to Manhattan, symbolizing the journey into the city. Available in various made-to-order fabrics, the displayed version at New York's design week featured a light blue upholstery complemented by cylindrical checkered cushions that serve as an abbreviated backrest.

The Arrivals Screen is another significant piece, its design directly referencing architectural elements within the city. It incorporates a motif inspired by Harry Roseman's "Curtain Wall" installation at JFK Airport's Terminal 4 international arrivals hall. This installation, composed of gypsum curtains along a long hallway leading to customs, is translated into a highly polished and reflective stainless-steel screen that can also function as a mirror. The screen's versatility is highlighted by its ability to divide a room, providing a sense of privacy for guests, and its backside includes a series of pegs for hanging items.

Materiality and Design Process

The "All Other Passports" collection pushes the boundaries of both Torres's and Phataraprasit's established practices. Phataraprasit, whose expertise lies in producing sustainable seating, introduced stainless steel as a primary material for this collection, exploring its manufacturing and production possibilities. Torres, who grew up with a DIY approach to design influenced by his mother's furniture making, found the transition to commercial design a unique challenge. He noted the distinction between designing for film sets, where aesthetics often trump functionality, and creating pieces intended for actual use. "I have production designers who design furniture for the apartments in shows," he explained. "And I want to keep some pieces because they're so great. But they're like – 'okay but you can't really sit on it, because it's made for camera'." This experience prompted him to question, "can people actually sit on this?"

The Personal Items side table further embodies the collection's narrative. Its surface is inlaid with a variety of objects, such as a fork, a key, and a spilling coffee cup, all stretched and distorted to create a marbled wooden finish. This design is a tribute to the moment of arrival, where one empties their pockets, assessing the essentials and discarding the superfluous. Accompanying the collection are metal charms, styled after the motifs on the side table, which can be attached to or pinned onto the various furniture pieces, allowing for personal customization.

Beyond the collection itself, the launch coincided with New York CityxDesign 2026, a city-wide celebration of design that showcased numerous other innovative projects and launches. This context positions Torres's debut within a broader landscape of emerging design trends and creative output within the city.

The collaboration between Julio Torres and Sabai signifies a growing trend of intersecting creative disciplines, where established figures from entertainment and arts bring their unique perspectives to the design world. The "All Other Passports" collection not only offers functional furniture but also tells a compelling story about belonging, transition, and the universal act of making a new house a home. It speaks to the design community and the general public about the emotional resonance of objects and spaces, particularly in the context of migration and urban life.

Source: Dezeen
https://www.dezeen.com/2026/05/21/julio-torres-sabai-all-other-passports-new-york-city/