With 30 years behind her, our friend Lori Weitzner continues to look forward. This progressive NY-based textile designer is a master of many traits. Originally when in college getting a Fine Arts degree, Weitzner planned to be a famous painter; a professor steered her into the field of textiles. An active imagination and desire to work with genuine, oftentimes undiscovered artisans led Weitzman to travel the world in search of new designers and materials. For example, the firm has partnered with a historical Italian mill and a Nepalese grassroots co-op in search of truly unique textile traditions.
The Weitzner Limited Studio is often described as part art gallery because there are sculptures and unique treasures abound in the workspace. It’s important to Weitzner that she stays connected to the faraway places she’s visited. Always poetic, when asked which country was her favorite, she replied that “there’s just too much beauty and uniqueness in each place to choose”. We agree, and we also agree with her assessment that because of this hyper high-tech era in which we live, feeling a connection to the artisan and his craft is vital. Pure things are both personalized and soulful, that’s what Weitzner is all about!
“Design boards” help fuel creativity at Lori’s Weitzner’s studio, Weitzner Limited. As you can imagine, it’s vital to remain organized; thus, the studio has a color-coded system. The main island is filled with bins of samples while the library looks like a kaleidoscope.
Image courtesy of: Go Design Go
Go ahead and spread the news with “Newsworthy”. Weitzner used real newsprint strips to create hand-woven textiles on a loom. Then, she backs it with paper to make a wallcovering. An added topcoat seals the recycled wallpaper and protects it for the yellow aging effect that naturally occurs. Who would have imagined?
Image courtesy of: Contract Design
First, natural fibers such as mulberry pulp and tree fig bark are washed and dried. Depending upon what product is desired, the fibers are then squeezed and manipulated by hand. Left outside to dry, the pattern is then cemented. It’s hard to tell whether this’ll be a sheet of wallcovering, a piece of art or a unique room divider… it could be any of those three, easily!
Image courtesy of: Altfield
The studio is superbly organized and color-coded. Nevertheless, there’s no sterile feeling in here, everything feels as though it’s there to provide additional inspiration.
Image courtesy of: Interiors + Sources
