ABOUT US
A dream while on my honeymoon in Morocco, a passion for handmade textiles and a fascination with indigenous cultures and artifacts led to a luxurious collection of hand-woven blankets and pillows. From West and East African, Persian to American Indian inspiration, we’ve created a collection that nods to the past yet provides a fresh and unique take on aesthetic and style.
PROCESS AND INSPIRATION
The company was born with our hand woven, baby alpaca blankets. The alpaca collection continues to embody the essence of my inspiration. Each alpaca pillow originates from the respective blanket. Many of the pillow sizes are dictated by the blanket design.
Each blanket begins as a hand drawing and chosen yarn colors. I then work with artisans to translate the 2-dimensional concept into the three-dimensional hand woven blanket. It’s a process where we challenge each other and invent ways to work within the bounds of the handloom. We incorporate techniques such as hand embroidery achieving a modern interpretation—such as in our Gade Chief and Saba Chief blankets.
Inspiration comes from everywhere and unexpectedly. Most recently the wonders of animal skin has been my muse—such as in the Peau blankets—one in gold and chocolate, the other in silver and charcoal—designed to read and move like reptile skin. The new Shuka blanket was inspired by the shuka cloths worn by the Masaai people of Kenya combined with the colors from a beloved African bracelet—offering a twist on the traditional red and black tartan.
Our pillow collection has recently expanded into Belgian linen fabrics, which are also sold by the yard. Linen is a wonderful complement to the collection. All parts of the flax plant are used and are 100% biodegradable and recyclable, the lustrous fiber colors beautifully and the fabric improves with age. Finally we also offer a collection of one-off and limited edition pillows created from vintage and one-of-a-kind fabrics from around the world—wool, cotton, linen, silk—from Morocco to Uzbekistan to Japan.
To see and feel the collection first-hand, I invite you to visit my studio.
Location:
260 West 35th Street #200, New York, NY 10001
Hours by appointment:
Monday through Friday 10a to 5p
646/ 593 7902
info@dbryantarchie.com
GIVING BACK
Just as important as the opportunity to dream and to make my dreams come true, I want to honor both the indigenous artists and artifacts that inspire our work and the native people who shear, dye and weave the designs into life.
The weaving of our textiles helps support the livelihoods and hand-looming traditions of artisans in a rural region of Peru. We work with partners who support their education and the education of their children. Furthermore, the process from sorting the fiber by hand to dying, weaving and cleaning of the final piece is kind to the environment.
In order to insure the passage of ancient weaving techniques continue through generations, we support the preservation of native textiles and artifacts through select domestic and international organizations and institutions. We also support local causes of those in need around us here in New York City.
And finally where possible we source and produce locally. For example the fabrication of custom projects are done in NYC’s Garment District.
CREDITS
Photography by Peter Dressel.
Styled photography taken at Etos, in New York City.