In a new collection of outdoor fabrics titled PICNIC, Kirkby Design has merged its conscious creativity with the bold and colourful aesthetic of Tekla Evelina Severin – resulting in a vibrant and joyful collaboration.
Words by Roddy Clarke
Part of the UK-based family-run textiles house The Romo Group, now in it’s fifth generation, Kirby Design continues to combine a contemporary aesthetic and conscious design sensibility with its latest collection, PICNIC, perfectly encapsulating the brand’s ethos. Created in partnership with Swedish colourist and designer Tekla Evelina Severin, known for her vibrant application of colour, PICNIC consists of four designs (PICNIC, SUNNY, BASKET and UNWIND) each made from 100% recycled polypropylene sourced from pre-consumer waste.
Intended for use outdoors, and perfect for garden furniture and accessories, this playful collection showcases how contemporary design can be seamlessly merged with a circular mindset. “We set out to create a palette that reflects the essence of both brands while celebrating the energy of colour,” says Tekla when discussing the combination of bold oranges and reds, mixed with vivid yellows, blues and greens, complimented with softer, pastel tones such as lilac. “Drawing inspiration from Sweden’s sunlit landscapes and the vibrant charm of a perfect picnic, we crafted a palette full of personality, with distinctive colour combinations and bold, striking plains.”
With this partnership following on from successful collaborations with other partners such as Transport for London and fashion brand Eley Kishimoto, Kirkby Design’s Brand Director, Jordan Mould, says how they had been fans of Tekla’s work for some time. “We had been looking for the right project to collaborate on,” he comments, “and when we were looking to develop textiles for outdoor spaces, we quickly realised this would be the perfect opportunity to work with her. The entire process has been incredibly exciting and has really pushed the studio to new heights in exploring what we can achieve with colour.”
Tekla, who also goes under the brand name of Teklan, founded her multidisciplinary studio in 2015, after graduating from the Interior Architecture and Furniture Design program at Stockholm’s Konstfack University of Arts and Crafts five years prior. Focusing on her love of colour and working on a range of photography and set design projects, the designer has since embarked on a vast number of commissions worldwide. Speaking of what she hopes users will feel when engaging with this new collection, she says it’s a sensory experience. “I believe we’re drawn to immersive environments that engage all the senses and feel handcrafted. It’s about textures, scents, sounds and lighting coming together to create a rich, multi-sensory experience – something this collection can truly enhance.” Coining the term ‘newstalgia’, she goes on to say how it is a modern twist on nostalgia with the colours evoking a comforting sense of safety and familiarity.
The designer also hopes this new collection will inspire those who may be apprehensive in applying colour, helping them to be more confident with their choices. “Colour is always relative and never absolute,” she says. “Just adding an accent colour in a white space will make it pop and by using many colours within a space it will help to create a fullness that contributes to an uplifting atmosphere. And, with studies showing that the human brain feels most harmonious in environments that are nuanced, such as nature, it is important to remember that colour is a light which brings energy and life – who doesn’t want that!” With the colours and textures coming together beautifully in this collection, we’re inclined to agree and look forward to seeing the creative applications of them in gardens all over the world.
While exuding a sense of joy and complementing the fresh, contemporary appeal of Kirkby’s existing collections, PICNIC is aligned to the brand’s wider goal of producing all new products from at least 75% recycled or sustainable materials. “We are currently in the process of reengineering our core collection too, to meet these standards,” Mould explains. “In five years’ time, we are aiming for our entire library to be made out of sustainable materials.” With the fibre used for the PICNIC collection using no water during its production, and having a 40% lower carbon footprint compared to virgin polypropylene yarn, it is another step towards reaching this goal and joins other collections from the brand made from natural ingredients such as aloe vera and organic cotton. For users of recycled plastic fabrics, it is important to be mindful when washing them in a domestic washing machine. Be sure to encase the fabrics in a laundry bag to avoid microplastics filtering back into the water outlet or opt for an easily attachable filter such as PlanetCare.
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