Almost a year ago today, I blogged about visiting the BDDW showroom in New York and discovered that the designers there were up to something rather unexpected: making bows and arrows.
I ended the post by predicting, "Don't be surprised if their wild west inspiration proves just as influential as their furniture designs. Navajo-print pillows anyone?" And almost immediately I started to notice First Nations-inspired design moments everywhere. Now, I'm ready to declare the look is a full-blown trend.
For the Proenza Schouler fall/winter 2011 collection, fashion designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez took pattern inspiration from Native American blankets they picked up on a road trip from Santa Fe to Wyoming. The collection, which reworked the prints for a contemporary look, was a critical hit, with Vogue's Hamish Bowles declaring it "a modern approach to couture — thoughtful, inventive, and desirable." The same can be said of the look at home if the approach is similarly modern.
Arrows in particular have emerged as a hip accent. Whether it's childhood nostalgia for summer camp days spent trying to hit a bull's-eye or the artisanal appeal of arrows and their colourful feather tips, stylemakers are eagerly exploring their decorative potential. In Blu Dot's Soho shop in New York, two arrows that echo (or inspired?) the colours of the Cant desk topped the walnut work surface during last spring's design week.
Fuzzco, a branding agency in South Carolina, recently designed new offices that they describe as "functional sculpture." A boardroom features a salvaged wood wall and two arrows that playfully shoot into the concrete floor.
And Partners & Spade, a knowing arbiter of all things cool (the studio/shop, located in New York's NoHo design district, is co-owned by Andy Spade, the husband half of Kate Spade), recently featured an installation of arrows among its artful objects.
When you have your own arrows in hand, a theme song might be just the thing to further spark some inspiration. In which case, cue up "Arrow" from the Sainthood album by Canadian indie band Tegan and Sara, and start redecorating.
For Suzanne Dimma's favourite Navajo-inspired accent, read her blog post.
Photo credits:
1, 3, 5. Kimberley Brown
2. Proenza Schouler fall/winter 2011 collection
4. Fuzzco offices via Remodelista blog
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