Bright, bold and inspired by the ever-changing face of Indian street culture, Kangan Arora’s textiles make a vibrant addition to our Limited Edition cushion collection this spring.
We caught up with the designer in her studio to find out about the ideas behind the screens…
Tell us about your design process Kangan… how do you get started?
I start with hundreds of photos I have taken of things that inspire me – it could be windows, people, buildings, markets… Then I abstract forms and motifs from one, colour from another and roughly put them together.
A lot of the designing actually happens on the go in the studio; when I have put two or three patterns I’m happy with on silkscreen, I just have a play around to see how they work together and in which colour combinations.
This experimentation and happy accidents are really the fun part of the whole process – it’s like unwrapping presents and never knowing what you might receive next.
Everyone has very personal reaction to colour. Are there any colours you instinctively avoid?
I tend to work with quite bold fresh colours as they resonate more with me in terms of where I’m from and what I’m trying to achieve; vibrant prints and patterns reminiscent of the whirlwind India that I left behind.
The colours that I avoid are perhaps more muted, muddy autumnal colours, such as olive greens and rusty terracottas –there are plenty of other designers who occupy themselves with that end of the spectrum!
Talking of other designers, do you have a design hero that influences your work?
I haven’t any one particular hero but, of the artists and designers I identify with, Marimekko, David Hockney, Doshi Levien and Sonia Delauney all resonate strongly with me. Mostly because of the integral role colour plays in their work; it’s thrilling and invigorating.
Do you have any studio superstitions/ design quirks?
I’m convinced my industrial sewing machine (that I share with my studio partner Jonna Saarinen) is possessed – it has a mind of its own and continues to function unassisted so I use my trusted domestic Janome even if it takes me twice as long to sew the cushions! I also like to add a neon something to pretty much everything I design (for good luck)… luckily my swing tags are a vibrant neon pink!
Tell us about the first textile you designed…
The first fully formed textile I designed was called Cows; it was inspired by an encounter with a narrow street jam-packed full of cattle on a trip to the holy city of Varanasi. The scared cow roaming the streets is such a clichéd yet memorable image for many visitors to India, it seemed an ideal subject matter to immortalise in a contemporary design. I used screen print, flock and machine embroidery to bring them to life as a cushion. They still bring a smile to my face…
From there, how did you get involved with Heal’s Limited Editions collection?
A few years ago I actually used to work in the textiles department at Heal’s Tottenham Court Road. I learnt so much about the personality and character that beautiful fabrics have - it’s an almost intangible quality that attracts people.
Heal’s has a long and illustrious history of supporting emerging design talent and commissioning unique textiles. Creating this limited collection was not only a chance to enjoy the great patronage and support of such an iconic institution, it also felt like coming full circle for me.
Finally, what three words would you use to describe your Limited Edition collection for Heal’s?
Colourful, Handcrafted, Quirky.
[ INSPIRATION ]
Behind the design
Furniture designer Sebastian Cox discusses why we need to start using British wood.
"The summer is over, and autumn’s here. Looking back, my favourite thing about the summer is the seasonal British-grown food I wait all year to eat - asparagus, strawberries, tomatoes and cherries top my list. I admit, I might very occasionally buy some Spanish tomatoes for a special dish but I avoid imported food as much as possible and I'd never touch air-imported Peruvian asparagus or Ethiopian fine beans.
I'm not the only one doing this. My local supermarket's tomato section provided me with some hard evidence this summer. More often than not, boxes of British tomatoes sat empty while the slightly cheaper Spanish alternatives were still very well stocked. This apparent consumer preference gives me a great deal of joy, and has come about because people have started to think about where their food has come from. Thanks Hugh and Jamie!
I believe this thinking should extend to everything we consume, not just food. Has it ever occurred to you that the wooden things in your house were most likely not grown in Britain, even though we have woodland dotted all over our little island? In fact, let’s take that question further – have you ever stopped to think about what your piece of furniture might have looked like as a plant sucking up CO2 and churning out Oxygen?
I think this question that needs to be asked more often. Not necessarily the one about imagining your furniture as trees, that’s my mind wandering, but the one about where it was grown. We need to start a conversation about British timber. And the person sitting us down, gravely telling us, ‘we need to talk’ is Ed Suttie, the founder and figurehead of Grown in Britain
This month they’re launching Grown in Britain Week to tackle these questions head on and give our forests a sustainable future. They’ll be launching the event at Heal’s flagship store on Tottenham Court Road on October the 14th and I’m so excited.
Not only will they make the essential introductions, connecting tree growers with wood users, they’ll encourage that essential conversation about where our timber comes from. In the way that Hugh and Jamie have done with our food. While I understand we can’t completely satisfy our huge appetite for wood with home grown produce, I’m hugely passionate about where the timber I use comes from and I’ve made a number of wonderful discoveries by being a fussy customer.
Do you know how b-e-a-utiful the most commonly occurring tree in London is when cut up for timber? London Plane has the most spectacular grain pattern and colour, yet is hardly known in contemporary furniture. Even the slightly better known British hardwoods such as Oak and Ash are, in my humble opinion, much more interesting that their American cousins. English Ash has a huge variation in colour ranging from purple to gold to white. Oak has pips, stunning wide flecks, and a range of browns that are too often overlooked.
And here’s the really great bit; the more we manage and use our woodlands for sustainable timber production, the better they become for wildlife and for growing future crops of wood. So don’t just stop at buying British grown fruit and vegetables, start asking where your timber comes from too."
Check out Sebastian Cox's furniture at Heal's.
HEAL'S DISCOVERS
HEAL'S DISCOVERS
Ed Heritage
As part of this season’s Heal’s Discovers initiative, we’re delighted to introduce Ed Heritage, an award-winning UK-based designer whose signature style of clean geometry and playful details is reflected in the beautiful lamp he created.
Discover more
-
Trends & Lifestyle
-
At Heal's
-
Tips & Advice
