Performance Art

PERFORMANCE ART

Born from an ingenious talent for curating interior and exterior collections of luxury furniture, fabrics and rugs, Perennials and Sutherland have become icons in the design industry. Ann Sutherland, Chief Creative Director of Perennials, reveals how both brands stand for longevity, timeless design, and consistent innovation

by Bryony Mc Cabe - ph. courtesy by Sutherland and Perennials

All too often, interior designers are faced with a difficult choice between style and performance. As such, Perennials was born out of the need for luxurious performance fabrics in a space where only marine-grade textiles existed. After founding Sutherland Furniture in 1994, David Sutherland and his design partner John Hutton were at a loss when it came to sourcing performance fabrics with a soft touch in sophisticated hues. David convinced his wife Ann Sutherland to find a solution, and Perennials was born. As purveyors of outdoor furniture and yachting aficionados, David and Ann desired textiles that competed with interior fabrics in terms of comfort and style. As a result, Perennials’ 100% solution-dyed acrylic textiles blur the lines of indoor and outdoor design. “Yacht designers want and need products that are on par with the elegance and sophistication their clients expect,” explains Ann. “They also need products that can stand up to the elements of the seas. Sutherland and Perennials collections are created with materials that resist water damage, salt corrosion, spills from swells, you name it.”

100% solution-

Perennials by Far West sees Texasbased hotelier Liz Lambert, alongside her eclectic marketplace Far West, design a collection of

dyed acrylic fabrics and rugs inspired by her homes in Marfa and Baja California

Perennials by Far West was informed by Liz Lambert’s love of Texas-meets-Baja craftsmanship (above with Ann Sutherland, right). With a history of working with artisans across Mexico, Lambert created a collection of vibrant stripes with strong textures. Five new fabric qualities – Serape Stripe, Tejas Stripe, Baja Stripe, Roadrunner Stripe, and Campo Stripe – feature a kaleidoscope of colour and texture.

When the Sutherlands recently refurbished their yacht, the 40m All Inn, it was no surprise that Perennials fabrics and rugs were featured heavily in the redesign. “We have Homespun, a gorgeous tweed-like quality, on our yacht,” adds Ann. “Blues are also a big seller on yachts, our velvets are popular for interior use, and our chenille fabrics like Soft Touch and Touchy Feely have an ultraluxurious feel that clients aim for. On the Sutherland side, popular collections for yachts include Peninsula, Classic, Poolside, the Neo-Classic Folding, and, of course, Mariner, a collection of 316 stainless steel furniture ideal for marine exposure.”

Constantly innovating and adding new collections, Perennials and Sutherland often collaborate with iconic yacht designers. Such

collections include Perennials by Bannenberg & Rowell, Oceana by Bannenberg & Rowell for Sutherland Furniture, and Plateau by Bonetti Kozerski, who designed a 40m Benetti yacht. The latest collection to be released is Perennials by Far West; inspired by hotelier Liz Lambert’s Baja bohemian aesthetic, it is characterised by a kaleidoscope of vibrant stripes with strong textures.

“The large-scale stripes with marine colour variations are particularly great for yachts – stripes are a classic in the yacht design industry, so this is a fresh look at stripes,” comments Ann. Collaborations allow Perennials and Sutherland to explore different aesthetics, and Perennials by Far West is a prime example.

www.perennialsandsutherland.com