From Runway to Hallway: ethniciti Sketches

Always looking to advance the notion of the connection of apparel to home fashion, we have created a series of ethniciti Sketches that form the basis of our online interior design service.

We are interested in how you might approach the design of of African-inspired interior spaces. Send us your ideas:  ethniciti@aol.com.

Let ethniciti inspire your room makeovers in our unique, African-inspired style.

Table Dressing

Nothing enhances the impact of a table setting more than the choice of the textile coverings. Forgotten in the rush for the dramatic place settings and props, an  elegant table cover sometimes is all you need.

For more home textile ideas, see “Textile Style” by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, photography by Andrew Wood.

African-Designed Home Textiles

I am of the opinion that color and texture are the foundation of any well designed space, setting the pace and acting as a reference point for choices as home interior projects evolve.

Traditional African textiles have always provided me with this checkpoint. A new awareness and access to artisans and suppliers open up many opportunities to be unique. I discovered, through a reference from Fatimata Ly, a company that is producing a wonderful line of textiles and furnishings.

Tensira, founded by a designer who is a native of Finland, recalls her first journey to Africa and how she was captured by the beauty of African textiles. They are fabrics of well-being, totally ecological and filled with history.

Sultry Silks

Originally introduced to the West from China and Japan along the romantically named Silk Route, silk has often been the fabric of choice for designers who wish to create a sumptuous elegant setting.

Silk works equally as well in garden room spaces. The vibrant colors and textures connect well with the foliage of any garden, make the scene seamless in its design. These spaces presented in “Textile Style,” by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, are example of how it all came together for a dramatic effect.

African Contemporary

The M’Afrique exhibition held during Milan design week dismisses the notion that African inspired design is founded on the philosophy of skins, sticks, and beige.

These masters are creating furniture that will fit comfortably and dramatically into any contemporary space.

Textile Vignettes

Modern African textiles combined with everyday furnishings can result in a dramatic change in a small corner of your home.

This upholstered side table combined with a simple chest of drawers painted coordinate with unique pillows by Eva Sonaike complete the makeover.

Path to Peace

In September 2005 Macy’s introduced the first Path to Peace baskets. The partnership with Rwandan artisans established a global market for these unique works of art.  The initial modest collection of baskets only available online at Macy’s.com and the Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square has expanded to other Macy’s location as well as a presence on
www. fairwindstrading .com.

While keeping a focus on the individual artisans, the expansion to textiles and most importantly products for every day use helps move the merchandise perceptions from crafts and collectibles to home fashion, opening up enormous expansion opportunities.

Instant Makeover

A very simple, fast, and cost-effective way to change the dynamic of a room is the use of slip covers.

Bring that summer white to your space with a number of options by Pottery Barn and these glorious accent pillows from ethniciti will give you instant gratification. What a wonderful start to the summer!

Africa Meets Neon

The awareness of African wax prints has taken on new levels of experimentation and application, none more dramatic then a recent photo shoot by Irina Graewe.

Bought to light by Out and About Africa, these images are truly stunning and offer ideas to designers looking for tangible ways to develop product lines.

The Power of Indigo: Aboubakar Fofana

There are few artisans who can work with a single hue and bring such power and freshness to the creation of African textiles.  Indigo, a color not only with cultural meaning but always in fashion, allows us to only imagine how we can us it as we look to refresh our personal living spaces.

The New York Times article, “From France and Mali, Shades of Indigo,” explores Aboubakar Fofana ‘s design philosophies and how the color indigo inspires him. His works can be seen at ABC Carpet & Home, 888 Broadway.