Design
Roxana Eslamieh
Shbori Banding: Metalic Gold on Azurite Blue. Repeats every 45.5″.
Image courtesy of: Walnut Wallpaper
Roxana Eslamieh, the designer behind Manuka Textiles, was born in Southern California. The daughter to immigrant parents, Eslamieh grew up in a house decorated with 70’s wallpaper throughout. Frequently outside, it was at a young age that Eslamieh fell in love with Los Angeles’ eclectic design scene and unique landscape.
The designer studied at USC’s Rossi School of Fine Arts and then at the Slade School of Art at University College, London. While in England, Eslamieh focused on printmaking, video art, and drawing. Following graduation, she apprenticed for a master weaver where she learned the basic elements of fabric and rug weaving structures, in addition to how to use fibers and colors.
Eslamieh’s paper is sourced by a US mill that uses 100% renewable wind-powered electricity. The mill is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and works to preserve its surroundings through the implementation of sustainable practices.
Image courtesy of: Manuka Textiles
Hoping to get the experience to start her own company, Eslamieh worked at Gemini G.E.L., a unique print-making studio. There, she was exposed to amazing designs and lots of archive files. Working with artists from various creative fields, the artist gained knowledge vital to the creative process. Thanks to her background in weaving and printmaking, she was inspired by a desire to create something that was multipliable… thus, Manuka Textiles was created.
Eslamieh harvests inspiration from the nature-infused cityscape of Los Angeles and translates it into hand-drawn, silk screen wallpapers that end up looking completely different as they are translated onto a flat surface. The young artist says that for her everything starts on soft and tactile paper.
Phaedra wallpaper in brushed gold.
Image courtesy of: Eporta
Eshlamieh likes to say that she transforms what would be on a wall to a different dimension. She says (courtesy of Surface Magazine), “Wallpapers act as a portal to another world.” As a young child, she would lay in bed and stare at her ceiling which had the appearance of cottage cheese. She would find new designs and shapes each day from the same stationary dots. This feeling of seeing something different when you look at the same object repeatedly is what the designer hopes to translate to others. She adds, “I find that wallpaper has endless distractions.”
Rift Wallpaper, Metallic Gold on Matte Black.
Image courtesy of: Surface Magazine
Eslamieh’s most important design is the Shibori wallpaper design. She says that as a texture-based designer, she spends time ensuring that she is able to capture the feeling of ideas that float inside her head. Usually, her process begins with a rice paper drawing; however, Shibori was inspirited by the process of printmaking. When the brayer is rolled out to remove the extra ink, it is the residue of each pass that she wanted to replicate.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Wallpaper, Dusty Rose with Metallic Gold on Aubergine.
Image courtesy of: Manuka Wallpaper
Up until now, Eslamieh’s wallpaper designs have been dark and foreboding; however recently, she has been working on peel-and-stick wallpapers that are abstract and tropical. Adding a “jungle vibe” to her collection is something she has wanted to do for quite some time. Perhaps it is because the designer likes surrounding herself with plants inside and her dreams are filled with tropical locations. She concludes, “What a better way than to create your own hidden paradise?” We completely agree!
