Wellbeing: nanimarquina x Ilse Crawford
Designed for nanimarquina by Ilse Crawford, the Wellbeing collection creates a calming atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Both designer and producer have come together to create a range of products that does good for the environment, their producers and the end-user too.
The producer
Established by Nani Marquina in 1987, this Spanish design company create lovingly handcrafted rugs. Driven by a desire to be unique, nanimarquina work with both international designers and local artisans to create one-of-a-kind rug designs.
“We really looked forward to working on this project and on this collection because this bought us closer to our essence, which is to get the most out of the value of craftsmanship. The fact of not having coloured fibres, shapes and drawings pushed us to be much purer and extract this value from the materials and fibres.” – Nani Marquina
The designer
Ilse Crawford is a designer, academic and creative director with a simple mission, to put human needs and desires at the centre of all that she does. This means creating environments where humans feel comfortable; public spaces that make people feel at home and homes that are habitable and make sense for the people who live in them.
“We look at everything from the point of view of the human experience, but then how we can make changes in the way that things are not just designed but made so that in the end it affects the whole system.” - Ilse Crawford
Designs for wellbeing
In an industry that can be a major polluter, nanimarquina has joined forces with Ilse Crawford to create a collection that works for good.
Consisting of rugs, cushions and even a hammock, the Wellbeing collection features a range of tactile textiles that introduce the natural world into our interiors. Crafted from natural materials that include afghan wool, nettle, jute, linen, silk, and organic cotton – these products were designed to have the least negative impact possible on their users, producers and the environment.
"We established these criteria (natural, sustainable and local fibers, handspun, no bleach and no dyes) from the beginning because we saw in them our crucial contribution as designers. By creating a conscious production, we discovered moments of unexpected beauty. That was, in large part, due to the fact that we could work with nanimarquina, since their knowledge in this field is enormous. " - Ilse Crawford.
Made from hand-spun, local fibres and using no bleach or dyes - Ilse Crawford identified these criteria as ‘pain points’ - areas within the design process which might have the greatest impact in terms of limiting abuses within the supply chain and cutting down on the environmental damage caused by chemical dyes entering the water system.
These natural materials are goods for us too. Using no bleach or dyes limits the number of toxic emissions released into our interiors, helping to keep us healthy. The focus of tactility and craftsmanship also connects us back to our senses – something that has been shown to help reduce stress levels.
The result is a warm and tactile textile collection that showcases the beauty of natural materials and is inherently sustainable in its production. What’s not to love?
Discover more designs from nanimarquina here.
