The colour of chic

British designer Richard Smith looks back at the rich heritage of Asian textiles in “Grand Vizier”, his new collection of printed and woven fabrics for Jim Thompson’s. The series features seven designs inspired by the lining of an Uzbekistani robe, an ikat vertical stripe from Central Asia and a variety of different versions of the poppy. 

“Today the trend in interior design focusing on colours that are brighter and purer and we see many more white backgrounds. Moving away from minimalism, people are injecting new life into their interiors in the form of one statement print, plus textures. Layering is another trend - mixing patterns of different scales, but with the same colour palette to create depth and a homely lived-in look. Small printed patterns are replacing textures and jacquards for a crisper/retro look,” says Smith.

While researching the No 9 Thompson Grand Vizier Collection, to give it its full name, Smith came across several previous versions of ikat vertical stripe from Central Asia. He then picked up his paintbrush and made a very loose watercolour sketch emulating the horizontal movement of yarns but at the same time giving it a much fresher and lighter look. One particularly exciting colourway is the true blue with chocolate brown, which is showcased in the Zabadani design.

The range of colours within the two colour ways of Tesserae makes it the most versatile and appealing of the designs. Loosely based on an ikat rectangle, it actually has the feeling of mosaic tiles. Printed on linen, it has a wonderfully soft drape. It is a perfect filler within a room, and can be used for anything from curtains to bed skirts.

For the Grand Paisley design, Smith found a tiny document of an entwined paisley motif from the lining of an Uzbekistani robe and repainted it in a much larger size. This scale allows for the brush marks to shine through and gives the motif movement. The paisley has been framed by vertical stripes of a loosely painted leopard spot giving it a fun edge and moving it on further from the original reference.

The poppy has been the inspiration for so many cultures in the history of textile design, from Japan all the way to the English Arts and Crafts movement, with everywhere in between. Looking again at the applique of Central Asia, the huge variety of different poppy versions have been painted in a loose and fluid way for the Papaver design. 

For the Vizier design, a loosely painted version of a regal ottoman damask has the scale and drama of the original but the soft usability of a more contemporary fabric. It is printed on a linen union so that it can be used for both upholstery and curtains, and comes in five colours that all work with the other fabrics in the collection.

“In the last few years, we have witnessed a global trend towards a casual living,” says Jim Thompson’s international marketing manager Sasaya Buranasatidporn. “Casual living is decorating our homes and surroundings with items that can easily be looked after or clean. For example, the trend has shifted from ostentatious decorations with lots of heavy draperies to decorating with more colours and patterns but simpler window treatments such as using various different types of blinds instead of heavily draped dress-curtains. Fabrics such as cotton and linen, which were only used in country homes in the American, English or continental countryside, now can be found in many city homes.”

  

 

>>STRIKING FABRICS

Grand Vizier collection is now available at Jim Thompson Surawong shop. It’s open from 9am to 9pm daily. Call (02) 632 8100 or visit www.JimThompson.com.