Black Artists + Designers Guild Partners with S. Harris on Textiles That Celebrate Craft Traditions
May 4, 2021
By Colleen Curry
“Each BADG designer gave long-overdue credence to the works of Black artists, Indigenous makers, and creatives of color alike,” Barnett shares. Photography courtesy of S. Harris.
For Brooklyn-based artist and entrepreneur Malene Barnett, 2018 was a big year. It was when she founded the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a community of independent artists, designers, and makers combating the lack of representation of Black talent and culture in the design industry. It was also the year that she connected with Jodi Finer, chief brand officer of S. Harris, to collaborate on a fabric, trimming, and wallcovering line that would celebrate the craft traditions of oft-overlooked parts of the world, from Bhutan and Zanzibar to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. BADG issued a call for submissions and four BADG members Shakoor Interiors principal Erin Shakoor, Ap
BA+DG and S. Harris Unveil Textile Collaboration Spotlighting Indigenous Cultures from Zanzibar to Bhutan
February 18, 2021
By Carlene Olsen
The Orejen Collection by BA+DG for S. Harris features fabrics, wallcoverings, and trimmings inspired by indigenous cultures, such as 14102W MOKO in
Jewel, which lines the top half of the wall, and PEMBA COAST in Jewel seen on the armchair, among others pictured.
Photography courtesy of S. Harris.
The Orejen collection by the Black Artists + Designers Guild for textile manufacturer S. Harris is exactly as its name (phonetically) suggests a deep dive into the landscapes, heritage, and craft traditions of the cultures referenced by each fabric, wallcovering, and trimming. From the sandy shores of Zanzibar s coast to traditional headdresses worn in Bhutan to rituals of indigenous groups in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, each piece represents a carefully researched cultural narrative.
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BADG and S. Harris team up to launch new collection BADG and S. Harris team up to launch new collection
origin and was designed by five BADG members
Finer, creative director and chief brand officer of S. Harris. The collection is meant to evoke the light, colors, textures, and topography of East Africa, Southeast Asia and the the Pacific Islands regions that are revered for their rich textile and craft traditions, yet often go uncredited for their influence on modern textile design.
The Nyota fabric from the Orejen collectionCourtesy of S. Harris