Design Process

My biggest inspiration comes from two different directions: nature and art.
I roam around in nature a lot. Being a hunter/gatherer type of person, I love to bring home special little treasures from nature. It can be a broken bird egg, a beautiful feather, a piece of china or a dried flower. Each item has a place on the table to serve as inspiration.
Art is a big inspiration for me as well. Both modern art and folk art. A lot of museum visits provide me with colour ideas. To me: one colour can be a beautiful colour while two colours create an emotion.
I use my table as a mood board. Slowly different ideas and designs take shape. When I am satisfied I will bring my ideas to the block printers table. Together we look into the possibilities. Our collaboration makes the collection come to life.

The Block Printing Process

Block printing is one of the earliest forms of printing patterns on textiles

The designs are first carved by hand in a block made of wood from a mango tree. Each colour in the pattern needs a block of its own. If, for example, the pattern has six colours, six blocks have to be carved. Even if only the heart of one flower is orange, then a block for the orange has to be made, showing only the little flowerheart.

The cloth is stretched out on long tables. The blocks are put on the cloth with utmost precision to make sure the pattern continues without failure. This can only work out well because it is in the hands of very talented crafts people. Still, because this product is made by the hands of people, each piece of fabric is a little bit different from the next.
Although some craftspeople work very fast, block printing is definitely a slow process. The carving of the blocks, mixing the colours by hand, the preparing of the fabric, the preciseness of the printing on the cloth. After all this has been done, the process is completed by more rinsing and washing of the fabric. Many hands have made it possible for us to wear these scarfs. They are wonderful pieces of craftsmanship. The dyes used in these products are Aso-free, low impact dyes.

Care Instructions

Due to the nature of hand printed fabrics, variation in colour and pattern may occur. Avoid direct sunlight, the colours will start fading.

Cotton and Linen
Cotton as well as linen should be washed at 40 C. Avoid washing at higher temperature because of shrinkage and wear. Also avoid washing at a lower temperature, because colours are fixed at 40 C and might run when washed at a lower temperature.

Do not leave the fabrics to soak. Iron at medium setting. Use a mild detergent that contains no bleach. Allow the textiles to air-dry, don’t put them in the dryer.

Silk
Silk should be dry cleaned at all times.
Particularly the gold patterned scarfs like ‘Dots and Stripes’ and ‘Gold dust’ should never be washed by hand.
(Due to the rubbing, the gold might come off when washed by hand or machine-wash).

Velvet cushions with gold printed tree
Dry clean only.