Charli XCX namechecks Mah Jong sofa in new song 'Card Declined'

The Mah Jong sofa, designed by Hans Hopfer in 1971 for Roche Bobois, has been referenced in Charli XCX's new song 'Card Declined'. Hopfer, a German designer, painter, and sculptor, invented the concept of a 'seating landscape' with earlier designs like the Bausystem (1965) and Mobiliante (1967). The Mah Jong sofa is a fully modular seating system based on cushions upholstered in bold textiles, originally called 'The Forever Sofa' before being renamed after the Chinese tile game. Over the years, it has been dressed by Kenzo Takada, Missoni, and Sonia Rykiel. The sofa's design allows users to combine corner, back, and flat bottom sections into infinite configurations, giving people agency to design their own living space. It has evolved with visible seams, irregular edges, added platforms, outdoor versions, and adjustable backs. The sofa is defined by bold patterns and mix-and-match compositions, best suited for large spaces.