I'm a big fan of the look my brother refers to as "world traveling supermodel" -- clean line modern classics mixed with cowhide rugs, kilim pillows, Moroccan tables, Chinese chests, Japanese influenced pottery -- so it probably comes as no surprise that Indian block prints figure right up there in my lists of loves. Both geometric and exotic, they have a casual, slightly hippie vibe that's at home anywhere on the globe.
Les Indiennes: Les Indiennes is a classic stop for this look. Putting a modern and sophisticated spin on an ancient art form, you'll find Indian block prints here at their most elegant. Airy prints on fine linens and cottons scream summer but their freshness is inviting all year round. The catalog, too, is inspirational, a virtual primer on how to mix these fabrics with clean-lined pieces to create a look that's inviting all year round: keep it simple, keep it light, keep it otherwise plain.
Cost Plus: Cost Plus takes the cue for their Voyage Les Indiennes collection not only from India, but from Morocco and Africa as well. Grab the simplest of their designs -- block print lumbar and paisley toss pillows, Parnavi and Tamara towels, Khara bedding -- as well as some of their furniture (we especially love the Kanta Chaise, the Ninda upholstered bed, and both the Cala hammered and tribal carved coffee tables) to mix in with your decor for a look that's both timely and timeless at prices that will leave you enough money to travel to their countries of origin.
IndusDecor.com: Looking for the real thing? Indus Decor carries classic looks in spicy colors -- saffron, indigo, umber -- as well as saturated pastels. Mix their densely patterned bedding with solid sheets. For an update n the classic summer look, try the Pushkar collection, in navy and white, mixed with solid color and striped bedding in white and blue.
(Images 1 & 2: Les Indiennes; Images 3 & 4: Cost Plus; Images 5 & 6: Indus Decor)
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Some other sources: Anokhi, which is involved in preserving blockprinting techniques, and Rasa NYC.
Block print having a casual "hippie vibe", indigo as a "spicy" color -- rather parochial views for the "worldtraveling supermodel" decor.
Wait so did Cost Plus REALLY create a line of work, copy Les Indiennes whose been doing this for years and remain pretty committed to their support of a small town in India through their efforts, and called it Voyage Les Indiennes??? No thanks, I'll support Les Indiennes if that's the case.
Morocco IS in Africa.
Or are we doing that thing where all of Africa is all the same, except when it's not?
Yep. Looks like. *facepalm* The touristy vibe of this article killed it for me. Sorry, hard to get all jazzed up about textiles when they're 'hippy spicy exotic'. 'Cause to my (entirely Western, born-and-bred US Citizen) perspective, they look very close to what I've grown up with since childhood, and thus not hippy or exotic. Just sayin'.
Well said, THETRICKSTR. Also, as we're talking about skilfully hand-printed fabrics here, how about we give some thought to the people who do the work? It's a shame you haven't mentioned Les Indiennes's fair trading principles in your post (although it's also a shame that they don't appear to have independent verification/certification for those principles). One source for Fairtrade Indian block printed clothes, accessories, and homeware here in the UK is Traidcraft: http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/ .
Also check out http://www.leattiser.com/ for indian themed linens, etc.
Where is the rug in the second photo from?
thanks!
I had a come-to-Jesus moment with myself with regards to cultural appropriation as a result of stumbling down the rabbit hole of this blog: http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com and I discovered that I needed to change elements of my design aesthetic. (Asian minimalist with pops of turquoise.)
It seems like much of cultural appropriation in the design community is related to wanting something different, unique, and interesting - possibly at the cost of the culture being appropriated from. "World traveling supermodel" pretty much nails it.
Vijay Prashad (of Trinity College interviewed in "Yellow Apparel: When the Coolie Becomes Cool") posits that cultural commodification is 'the emptying out of every culture'.
And goes on to say: "The suburban existence makes young people feel emptied of meaning. These are not trivial things. These are expressions against the meaningless of suburban existence. You know, where you can't have a real conversation because everything is good; everything is about the schedule. ... It's all bureaucratized and managed, one's life. ... There is nothing where you feel like "I have had an experience"."
But we can feel like we have had an experience with 'world traveling supermodel' or 'Asian minimalist', no?
Please do not feel that I object to Indian block prints, specifically; just that our design eye should also be cautious of context when we explore cross-cultural design.
Saffron Marigold is also a good source.
From a design perspective, sticking something into the "indian" or the "moroccan" or any other cultural box is a lazy way of exploring design. So is "bohemian" and "world traveling super model"
Without getting into the cultural-context aspect of the origins of these textiles, one could try to determine what makes these designs appealing from a purely aesthetic viewpoint. I love these types of textiles which is odd because I'm not much of a floral person in general. A design blog could try to dissect the aesthetic a bit more than just telling me where to buy it on the cheap.
BTW - thanks for the Anokhi link - beautiful stuff!
Awesome link, Hayden! Will be passing it on . . .
JenPDX, thanks. Anokhi also has a museum, publications etc. on block-printing techniques. I knew about them because I bought some curtains a while back but I didn't realize they had put video on Youtube too -- video of a master block printer. I love the internet! (And I really appreciate many of the comments on this thread).
Uh oh, another politically insensitive design article... glad to know western colonialism is alive and well.
http://indiska.com/default.asp?e=interior&langid=44
Les Indiennes is incredibly expensive and I realize it's on the "high" side of the "for every budget" in this article. I have a couple of pieces from them that I really like, but that I got on sale and they have lasted a lot longer than some of the stuff I've bought from Cost Plus and Pier 1. Having said that, if you're the type of person who wants to commit to a block print for the long haul, that might be good for you. If you want a small accent piece, it makes no sense to spend an arm and a leg getting something that is readily available and doesn't need to hold up to wear and tear. There are plenty of $10 pillows out there that will give you the exact same look.