Inspired by the seasonal pilgrimage of French & American creatives of the 1920s, the Seaworthy collection embodies patterns drawn from my textile & object library that evoke the textures, charm & tales of sunny, leisurely expeditions to the Côte d’Azur.
The warm East wind, Le Levant, signalled the end of winter as the writers, artists, witty conversationalists, and their muses migrated from Parisian pied-à-terres, ateliers or from the States via ocean liner travel for the summer to the pebbly beaches of Antibes or the golden hills of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the surrounding villages.
The Fitzgeralds, Cole Porter, Gerald & Sara Murphy and their entourage congregating at La Colombe d’Or. I imagine Zelda arriving in a petite convertible, unwrapping her hair from a silk scarf as she arrives with Jacques Lartigue capturing the moment mid-motion. After a long lunch, the lively frivolities would roll into the balmy night at the Murphy’s Villa America for cocktails & dancing, leaving Scott to pen ‘Tender is the Night.’
The colours in the collection conjure up imaginings of afternoons with Picasso at Antibes with some plein air painting, and oysters & baguettes are on the menu. He, of course, is dressed in his uniform of striped top, rope soled espadrilles and cotton print bandana around his neck. And joy rides along the sun-soaked country roads seeking out small brocantes with the scent of dry hay, neroli, rosemary, rose geranium & mint.
A selection of designs printed on Bruge, from the new collection
Dreaming up lazy days of bathing under striped fabric beach shades, the rocks absorbing the day’s heat with elevated fold out rattan sun loungers, freshly made straw hats turning golden in the sun. Then as the soft breeze picks up sailing through the crystal-clear shallows of the Mediterranean to Îles de Lérin for exploring and swimming.
Seaworthy Textures & Patterns
Such stories, characters and sensory delights are encapsulated in the textures and patterns I teased out by delving into my object library.
Vintage espadrille fabric, woven on the thinnest of looms in subdued stripes waiting to be hand stitched onto rope soles.
A selection of designs printed on Bruge, from the new collection
A collection of woven rattan baskets, bottles and bags begging for a row-boat picnic.
A homespun flour sack picked up in a brocante.
The well-loved bistro seat woven by Maison Drucker in a favourite dappled square.
Petite repeat patterns of anchors and boats, reminiscent of scarves for taming windswept hair or tied simply around the neck.
Sibella Court’s Seaworthy Collection offers 13 designs in a selection of colourways, all ready to be digitally printed on high performance furnishing textiles and wall covering. Send your residents, guests, and patients on a wistful journey where they don’t wish to be anywhere but right where they are.
Thank you to Sibella for the story behind the collection and to her team at The Society Inc.
Photoshoot of the new collection styled by Sibella Court, with photography by William Meppem. Inspiration imagery sourced by The Society Inc.
