Natural fibres include linen, cashmere, alpaca wool
The collection presents a blending of Sweitzer’s feminine, artistic style, and the more masculine, austere lines that Ethnicraft is known for, says Sweitzer.
“I wanted to achieve a sense of balance between a modern, uncluttered style and my own bohemian and refined influences. At one point in the process, I let things develop on their own, in a way that is organic. I am fascinated by the way beauty can manifest when something doesn’t go right during the creative process,” she says.
Textile design is something Sweitzer knows well, designing rugs and cushions for large brands like Anthropologie and Bed Bath & Beyond, 20 years ago, and over the years incorporating a dye kitchen, looms and full-time weaver into her artist studio.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the process, just as much as the visual and esthetics. When I design textiles, 99 per cent of what we use are natural fibres,” she says, like alpaca wool, linen, cotton and cashmere.
Learning the process of weaving and dyeing was important for her, says Sweitzer, because it’s helped her understand what’s possible and what isn’t in terms of having her Refined Layers collection for Ethnicraft produced in a factory in Belgium.
“They don’t use cashmere because they want to reach a specific demographic.
“A wider demographic. They’re on different looms and the process is different,” she says.
When it comes to the designs themselves, Sweitzer says travel always provides inspiration.
“I travel so often and I’m fascinated by other cultures, and art, and pretty much inspired by everything around me,” she says.