Category: Articles

Brocade Chinoiserie Garden Pavilion Bamboo Dream of Red: A Beautiful Piece of Art

The Brocade Chinoiserie Garden Pavilion Bamboo Dream of Red is a fabric that blends rich history and beautiful design. This fabric is inspired by the famous Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, which tells the story of aristocrats living in their luxurious gardens. Much like Hamlet in English literature, this novel is a classic, and this fabric reflects the elegance of the time.

The design features a beautiful garden scene with bamboo and a pavilion, where noble figures are seen. It captures the essence of their life in great detail. Unlike many fabrics imported from that era, this one stands out for its artistic quality.

Made with a mix of silk and rayon, the fabric feels soft yet strong. The rayon trim adds a nice finishing touch. Its versatility allows it to be used in many ways—whether as clothing, a table cover, a shawl, or even a decorative throw.

This brocade isn’t just a piece of fabric; it’s a piece of art that brings a story to life.

 

55×53 Brocade Chinoiserie Garden Pavillian Bamboo Dream Of Red C

Scalamandre Leopard Square Greens Linen Velvet Animal Skin Plaid Green Check

The Scalamandre Leopard Square fabric in “Greens” is a perfect choice for a handmade chair that stands out. Woven in France, this linen velvet is thick and durable, weighing over 2 pounds per yard. The fabric features leopard skin patterns arranged in squares, giving it a unique look. The rich green shades create a jungle-like feel, with the velvet’s soft shimmer adding a touch of luxury. Its sturdy texture ensures the chair stays in great shape while offering a stylish, bold design. Perfect for those who want a unique and elegant touch to their furniture.

 

Scalamandre Leopard Square Greens Linen Velvet Animal Skin Plaid Green Check MSRP USD 424/y

100% Silk Damask Peony River

Asymmetrical design may seem daunting but it is easier to work with than you think. Drapery, bedding or upholstery, it guides the eye gently to a place of romance and nature where rarely you see a straight line or square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI, the inspirational photos used another fabric, but it’s very similar to our Peony River fabric.

 

Fabric of Peony River with different colorways are available here:

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Spice Red

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Gold Dust Yellow Cream High End

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Toffee Tan

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Curry Gold

100% Silk Damask Peony River – White Gold Ecru

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Moonstone Ecru

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Mist Ecru

100% Silk Damask Peony River – Palm Green

By Yard CUSTOM ORDER 100% Silk Damask Peony River – Blue

100% Silk Damask Peony River Linen – Ecru

 

Founder of Old World Weavers Designer Doyenne Iris Apfel Has Died at 102

https://www.vogue.com/article/iris-apfel-obituary

Ahead of her time or his time in too many ways.

She has good taste in man, in design, in food and at last, probably of least importance,  in fashion.

On relationship and diet: “Apfel responds: “And I figured he was cool, and he was cuddly, and he cooked Chinese, so I couldn’t do any better.” (Above is also a lesson of fitness and health.)

On fakery and loss of authentic craftsmanship: We see her lambasting modern designers (“They don’t sew, they don’t drape, they’re media freaks”).

Aging or ageism: In 2019, aged 97, she landed a modelling contract with IMG. “I’m very excited. I never had a proper agent.”

On Slow Fashion (and Slow Home Deco): “I still wear the dress that I wore on my first date with my husband and that was 68 years ago. I get a lot of mileage out of my clothes,” she told Vanity Fair in 2015. Good quality and good taste are forever. (I never buy anything from fast fashion brands. I’d rather wear something old, with holes, faded, used but in good quality. )

On frugality and resourcefulness: “Another time, her mother gave her $25 to buy an outfit for the Easter Parade. “I bought a beautiful silk dress in pale peach, a straw hat, and a pair of pumps, and I still had money left for coffee and lunch,” she told The Guardian.

She built a great business with her husband for 55 years and started a 2nd career  in her 90s.

Thank you for giving us Old World Weavers and an inspiring life.

Your legend is a proof that America was, is and still can be a great country where one can get Russian immigrant, Italian Silk, Chinese food, American agent and some more, all within two blocks of NYC, where all the Old World Weavers of Seven Continents and Seven Seas come together to weave something new.

Decorating with a Budget?

Using high end fabric on light shade is a brilliant idea! Our eyes are naturally drawn to light and the center of the room. Its height also invites contemplative gazing. When the light is on, the beauty of the textile is also amplified and illuminated.

Here, merely one yard is needed for our client to make a statement: Scalamandre Watermark Moire in Ming Yellow.

2nd idea: use high quality textile—something you absolutely love to create a small “nook”. A small space that you will spend a lot of time often. Thus the beauty will be enjoyed more often. In this private retreat, you can disregard other family member’s opinion and simply go with what pleases, energizes and revitalizes you and you only.

Here is what our client did with some extravagant silk lampas. Merely 2 yards, full of colors, patterns, fantasies and textures, offers her a piece of heaven that nowhere to be found.

3rd trick: create a “wearable” or “carry-on” piece that you can use and enjoy in different rooms and occasions. A throw can be on the sofa, your reading chair, your table, your bed and even on your evening out!

After you get years of joy out of these pieces, full of our own creative energy, you will see so clearly how “affordable” and “economical” such projects are! Even half a yard, as a gorgeous table running, can make such an impact.

A Tiny Extra Will Save Your Day Down the Road

Every year we have clients coming to ask “this is discontinued and I need just such and such small amount but I cannot find anywhere!”

The chances of finding a discontinued wallpaper, fabric, trim with accurate identification information is very slim. Even with those information it is still very hard. This is from our 14+ years of experience.

You may have to find a creative way to repair that area. Or even replace all the wallpaper, fabric or trim if it’s not too costly. Unless your time has no value, pending two years watching internet is costly too.

1.Next time when you buy new wallpaper, fabric and trim, it is a good idea to have a bit extra for future repair. Because repair will happen. Same with tiles & paint!

2. Save the accurate information of the material: Brand, pattern name, colorway, SKU # and even dye lot.

Do not just put it on paper. Save it on your email or/and computer.

Experienced designers may know this. The rest of us (99%) learn this too late!