DESIGN ARCHIVES London Life Chelsea October 2023

Samarkand, a Silk Road inspired textile collection

The Design Archives has launched this autumn, a vibrant and eclectic fabric collection of printed archival designs inspired by traditional ikat and hand woven kilim textiles.

The three designs in this original collection named Samarkand, beautifully convey the evocative textile history of the traditional Silk Road route. After launching at Decorex, (the leading international interiors show in London held earlier this month) Samarkand looks set to cement the brand’s growing reputation for creating one of the most colourful and interesting textile collections of the year. With prints in a range of colourways from calming neutrals to rich and vibrant jewel tones, founder and creative director Sharon Crowson has been delighted with the positive reception the collection has received from both interior designers and retail customers.

“Our enduring fascination with the riches and opulence of the East was the starting point of this collection” she explains. “The inspirational pattern and colour of these traditional designs were ripe for reinvention, and I believe the provenance of such classic designs will resonate with designers looking for authentic fabrics which tell a story.”

These designs elegantly reference specific Eastern motifs – Amisha is an Ikat inspired print in five colourways on a luxurious linen mix cloth which offers a sophisticated and subtle design to mix and match with plain fabrics. The bold Cyrus showcases the classic rhythmic ogee pattern which was used widely throughout the 16th century in Turkish and Persian brocades, while Qarshi (named after the city in Uzbekistan famous for its woven flat carpets) is a large scale geometric stripe which evokes the style of kilim rugs. The collection exemplifies the brand’s commitment to embracing a classic heritage of pattern and texture, while injecting a contemporary twist through Sharon’s signature taste in colouring and an inventive and creative use of scale.

Samarkand and all the other textile and wallpaper collections in the portfolio can be seen at the Chelsea showroom at Worlds End Studios in Lots Road during the week, or by appointment.