OREJEN COLLECTION
S. HARRIS
Through the decolonization of design, transparency
becomes non-negotiable.
The future of design exists in the dedication of acknowledging the aesthetics that make our industry so innovative. In this time of Black liberation, responsible inspiration must be at the forefront of design. For far too long, we have been subjugated to visual communication that under-represents and undermines the Black artists, makers, and creatives across the African diaspora that are essential to the design industry.
Black Artists + Designers Guild is at the forefront of this new world of design, with the ethos of responsible inspiration as our baseline for creativity that expands beyond the atypical Eurocentric methodologies. S. Harris came to us to curate a one-of-a-kind collection of vibrant fabric textiles, drawing inspiration from three different regions—East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Islands.
Both delicate and durable, the collection stays true to both our vision of a more inclusive design narrative for the future of textiles, as well as S. Harris’ commitment to offer the most exclusive patterns and designs to their customers by partnering with top contemporary designers from all segments of the design industry.
Our attempt was to honor groups and cultures that are typically underserved in the design world.
- RAYMAN BOOZER
We want to encourage the design community to engage in deeper conversations about people, culture, materials, and traditions.
- MALENE BARNETT
Meet the Designers
Our makers—including Malene Barnett, Rayman Boozer, Linda Hayslett, Beth Diana Smith, and Erin Shakoor—cultivated a collection that increases visibility for the rich history of design in each locale, without the common erasure of historical context that comes when an off-the-shelf brand releases a “Moroccan” line. In support of the release, we also created a social media campaign encouraging artists to find #responsibleinspiration for their work.
