Last year I was invited to create a design for a new textile collection for Hemptech, a wonderful New Zealand company specialising in natural fabrics for interiors. As their name suggests, Hemptech have an extensive range of natural fibre textiles including hemp and linen and their patterned designs are screen printed with non-toxic, water-based ink. Like me, they believe we don’t need to compromise the environment to have beautiful things.
Hemptech’s collection of printed textiles embraces influences from the natural world and the artists and designers who have created designs for them are very connected to the landscape. I immediately felt a synergy with them.
After a couple of meetings, discussing some of my most recent work—like the Collected Patterns series of prints and embroideries and the wallpaper collection I designed for Moore & Moore, which both share influences from nature—we discussed how my ability to tell stories through my work could fit within their current collections.
The result is Coolum…
Coolum is one of many beautiful beaches on Australia’s ‘Sunshine Coast’, just north of Brisbane. The design was inspired by the patterns water makes when it laps up on the beach and forms ripples in the sand, fish scales, sea shells and the shapes of the surrounding mountains. This is a beach that I visit when I can and holds many happy memories of long walks and summer seaside holidays.
Coolum is printed on Hemptech’s beautiful 100% linen fabric, ‘Valence’, and the soft print style allows the natural texture of the fabric to show through. It’s a versatile fabric suitable for drapes and soft furnishings in a washed colour palette, including colours like Sandcastle, Straw, Awash, Ripple and Seaweed. I wanted to created a design that is light, free and open and reflects a contemporary Australasian style.
Visit the Hemptech website for more information on Coolum and to view the rest of their inspiring collections. Australian orders can be made through MOKUM.