PORTFOLIO
Rithu Kalam Textile Designer
VIRIDESCENCE - GRADUATION PROJECT COLLECTION
As part of the graduation project, home furnishing collection was developed for Jim Thompson Fabric, a buyer of Revolucion Textile Pvt limited. The design direction for the collection was taken from heimtextil trend forecast theme - Urban oasis.This collection seeks its inspiration from the tropical rainforest of South Asia. Color palettes and textile technique were explored to create the main pattern along with its co-ordinates.
This jacquard fabric is inspired by the intricate pattern of the keruing tree bark.The textural lines are mirrored to create unique designs that mimic the bark of the tree.The artwork is woven in a light and dark shade of garnet rose color. Technique - jacquard Dimension - 40cm X 40cm X 48cm
Raffleasia, a reddish wild flower freckled with white spots, is the inspiration for this design.The fabric is woven using HSY acrylic yarn to produce an embossed effect, almost like the texture seen on the petals of the flower. Technique - Jacquard Detail - piping Dimension - 14” x 14”
Technique - Embroidery Dimension - 14” x 14”
Technique - Embroidery Dimension - 14” x 20” Mushy lands of South Asian rainforest are inhabited with tree’s covered with a blue green growth of lichens.This multi colored embroidered cushion takes its inspiration from the same. top left Yellow bellied bulbul perched on a branch of crossifolium flowers are a common sight in the tropical rainforest. This embroidered cushion cover was added to accentuate the whole collection. down left Tesellated leaf pattern have inspired the design for this cushion cover.The repeat design pattern is quilted on soft satin base.
Technique - Quilting Dimension -14” x 14”
Design repeat - 65cm x 80 cm This large scale composition is inspired by the exotic flora and fauna of South Asian Rainforest.An array of bulbul birds sing through a myriad of large scale ginger flowers ,which are embroidered onto satin base,in a lively comtemporary palette. Artwork is rendered on photoshop and converted to Jacquard and embroidery programs.
ECLECTIQUE - GRADUATION PROJECT COLLECTION Future Trends S/S 19
Textiles
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As part of the graduation project,a range of digital printed outdoor collection was designed for Lelievre Paris, a buyer of Revolucion Textil Pvt limited. Design direction for this collection was taken from WGSN future trend for S/S 19.In this collection, outdoor textiles embrace an artistic approach with painterly effect,energetic marks and impressions of stamp on paper.Designs are hand painted, and are used as bold placements or large scale repeats for statement cushion covers.
18” X 18” Digital printed cushion Fabric - Polyester slub ,100% poly mat weave Detail - piping Usage - outdoors
18” X 18” Digital printed cushion Fabric - Polyester slub Usage - outdoors Motifs were made by stamping scrap waste ( straw,broken tile,sponge bottle cap..)on paper with poster paint to create bold and expresive patterns.The repeat pattern was rendered on photoshop by scanning the painted artworks.
24” X 24” Digital printed Sham Fabric - Polyester slub
54” X 60” digital printed throw with 1” piping Fabric - Polyester slub, 100% poly mat weave
MISTY MEADOW - PRINT DESIGN COLLECTION
Misty Meadow bedlinen collection encaptures the serene beauty of the Nilgiri mountain. Hand painted textures and watercolor motifs of Nilgiri tahr and neelakurnji flowers are translated onto the fabric by digital printing.
Hand painted CAD designs Medium - Watercolor, dry pastels
Design is inspired from the artwork of American based artist Lynn Pollard. Design ideation - Layering, Monochromatic color scheme.
“ I gazed upon the mountains as the blue flowers carpeted the meadow..”
Fabric - Sateen Composition - Poly cotton Method - Pigment digital print
PRODUCT TEXTURE MAPPING
Right - The repeat pattern is inspired from different form of flying kites. The design is rendered on Nedgraphics color and repeat. Left - Product mapping of kite pattern .
Tessellated stroke bird design artwork is drawn on illustrator and digitally print on duck cotton. Technique - Digital print Fabric - Duck cotton Usage - cushion cover, Apron
Screen printed Garden Chairpad ‘Ant on creeper plant’ artwork is drawn on illustrator and color seperated into different layers for screen printing . Techniue - screen printing Fabric - 100s Cotton sheeting fabric size - 24” x 24”
CELTIC ANTIQUITY - Block printed cushion collection
Celtic knots, are a variety of knots and stylized representations used for decoration.These knots are used extensively in Celtic style of insular art and are known for thier adaptations in monuments and manuscripts. Motifs in the collection represent a stylised butterfly and cross symbol, which are carved on wooden block and hand printed on handloom cotton fabric.
2.5” X 2.5” wooden block motif
3” x 3” wooden block motif
Fabric - Medium weight handloom cotton Technique - block printing, patchwork size - 16” x 16”
CRAFT DESIGN PROJECT - Mulanthuruthy handlooms
Mulanthuruthy handloom weavers co-operative society is an important handloom center located at Ernakulam, Kerala. Traditionally, the product made in the cluster are thorthu( kerala cotton towel),single dhothi, shawl and area rug. ‘Winter Bloom’ is a collection of stoles woven by the artisans of Mulanthuruthy handloom cluster.In this collection. the traditional art of hand weaving is revived by introducing new design techniques.
Yarn count - 40s and 80s combed cotton yarn width - 32 inches length - 1.5 metres weave - plain weave Technique - Extra weft ( geometric buta),thread pulling, Interlacement of beaded yarn and coarser yarn. Trim - Tassels.
Set of two holiday kitchen towel Front towel yarn count - 2/20s x 10s weave - stripe construction - plain weave Detail - fringe Back towel fabric - self weave technique - digital print Design - diagonal stripe
OTHER WORKS
Artwork rendered with the technique of pallette knife painting on acrylic medium. size - 20”x 20”
Texture mapping of cherry blossom repeat on bedlinen.
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