Textiles, despite their constant presence in our interiors, have recently seen a comeback in a big way, especially in the months when we mainly sit indoors. Moreover, we are turning to more sustainable design and choices based on natural solutions, materials and production methods.
Until recently, ceramics, especially those from small, artisanal, proprietary workshops or ateliers, such as Trzaska Ceramics, Frajda Ceramika or Czynie Ceramics, were extremely popular. Nowadays, the fashion for ceramics is fortunately not fading, but one can also observe a clear turn to artisan-made textiles, such as rugs, macramé, tapestries, bedspreads, pillows and macramé.
A view of macramé in the interior
Photo by Elena Putina © Unsplash
There are many courses available for weaving macramé or making macramé rugs, textiles even flood Instagram and various lookbooks. Very often we see references to boho aesthetics, local folklore and inspirations drawn from design of the communist period, which can be found at Makatka Polka, Kilim All or Luszcz Rugs.
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Materiality and psychological comfort
Designers and designers are increasingly turning to natural plant fibers, for example, bamboo, jute, coconut or vegetable waste, which further make it so that the thermal function of textiles is enhanced. What's more, textiles also provide cushioning, sound absorption and, above all, influence the coziness and aesthetics of the interior, providing a sense of warmth both physically and mentally.
Colorful carpet with folklore motifs
Photo: Sina Saadatmand © Unsplash
Of course, the pandemic situation in which we find ourselves and the desire to adapt the interior as a safe haven wrapped in softness is also relevant here. In the first months of the pandemic, it could be observed that textiles of various kinds were a frequent purchase choice, especially since they are very easy to adapt to a new interior. Moreover, unlike furniture or other permanent home furnishings, textiles are something that can be replaced very quickly, easily and relatively inexpensively, matching their aesthetics to the permanent space. Perhaps this trend is also a kind of counterpoint to the excess of digital technology surrounding us, softening and literally and figuratively softening the environment. Textiles engage the sense of touch and often smell, which are marginalized when exposed to digital media.
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design and art
It is also worth noting that textiles are not only design, but also a medium used in the field of art. Suffice it to mention the work of Magdalena Abakanowicz and her famous abacanas, created since the early 1960s, which are spatial textiles, or basically soft sculptural forms that got their name from her. In them, the artist combined her fascination with soft, loosely falling canvas and the expression of color. Meanwhile, in the work of Maria Pinińska-Bereś, who created at the same time as Abakanowicz, there is a perverse play with the stereotypical "female" form and color. The artist used soft fabrics in white and pink, giving them a sculptural form, saturated with intimate, confessional content.
