Plaid Plays An Important Role In Volkswagens History
Photo credit: Volkswagen
Every so often, the car industry sees an iconic design that becomes emblematic of its respective era. Few pairings have captured this phenomenon better than Volkswagen Golf GTI and its plaid seating upholstery. Although the Volkswagen Golf GTI and plaid are universally recognizable, very few are familiar with the creator of this exemplary design. It was one of Volkswagen’s first female designers that revitalized the compact car into the sports car we know and love today. Now, let us take a closer look at Gunhild Liljequist and how she forever changed how the world perceives the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Before 1964, Gunhild Liljequist made a living by selling porcelain pieces and chocolate candy boxes that she designed and painted herself. In 1964, Volkswagen hired Liljequist and brought her onto the Germany-based Department of Fabrics and Colors in Wolfsburg when she was just 28. The main focus of her work was centered around paint hues, trims, and interior design. So, when the Volkswagen Golf GTI began production in the 1970s, Liljequist was selected to design various aspects of the interior. It was then that Liljequist birthed the two concepts that are synonymous with the Volkswagen Golf GTI: a golf ball gear shifter and plaid upholstery seats.
When asked what inspired her to come up with the plaid upholstery seating, Liljequist said “Black was sporty, but I also wanted color and quality. I took a lot of inspiration from my travels around Great Britain and I was always taken by high-quality fabrics with checked patterns. You could say that there is an element of British sportiness in the GTI.”. In regards to the golf ball gear shifter, Liljequist said “That was a completely spontaneous idea! I just expressed my sporting and golf associations out loud: ‘how about a golf ball as the gear knob?’”. Her design decisions faced internal scrutiny from colleagues. However, when the Volkswagen Golf GTI rolled out onto the market featuring Liljequist’s trademark design, it was an instant hit among consumers.
Liljequist continued to work for Volkswagen for over thirty years, playing a key role in shaping how the world viewed Volkswagen during the 1970s and beyond. Her noteworthy contributions include being the head interior designer of the 1987 limited edition ‘Etienne Aigner’ Mk1 Golf Cabriolet and the discovery of an iridescent, pearl color that she applied to a car’s surface, using a transparent foil. The metallic quality of paint on modern cars would not be possible without the miraculous work done by Liljequist with paint hues. Gunhild Liljequist retired in 1991, but her legacy will forever permeate throughout the fabric of every Volkswagen Golf GTI.
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