Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design
As an interior designer, textiles are one of the most important tools in my arsenal. As the clothes maketh the man, I believe textiles maketh a room. Without them, even the most expertly designed space can look a bit bare and bland.
Layering up with textiles instantly adds texture, warmth and interest. And they’re easy to change; if something isn’t quite right about a space, I’ll try moving the rug, replacing the cushions or swapping the curtains first.
It probably comes as no surprise then that I’m currently obsessed with one of the latest trends in textile design: tribal prints. These bold, geometric and often monochromatic prints are striking and inspiring. They represent history, culture and thousands of years of tradition. With that in mind, I want to show you a few designers who create tribal textiles with a lot of love and respect for the culture that influences them. Not only is their work thoughtful and considered it’s gorgeous too.
Eva Sonaike
Eva Sonaike is a London-based designer creating luxurious home accessories with African and European inspired prints. Eva’s motto is ‘Bringing colour to life’ and her range of textiles dutifully feature bright hues and bold colour combinations.
Here are a few of my favourite designs:
Mum’s
Mum’s is a Scandinavian art brand championing beautiful design and traditional handicraft skills. The company was founded after a fateful trip to Africa back in 2006. My particular favourite is the MUM’S loves Africa collection. This range was ‘designed in Finland, inspired by Africa, handmade fairly in India’. Just look at these beautiful designs:
Catarina Riccabona
Catarina is a textile designer and weaver. Her cushions and throws are made by hand on a traditional loom in her studio in Southeast London. Her work has an eco-friendly emphasis – her yarns are natural (linen, hemp, wool, alpaca), undyed/unbleached and sourced from the UK and Europe. Her designs are a much more subtle take on tribal prints and feature a pleasingly neutral palette. A selection of her textiles can be purchased at The New Craftsmen website.
