Upholstery Art

Print artist and fashion designer Saz Mifsud has made a name for herself creating colourful fashion accessories in silk. Now, through a collaboration with Form, she’s venturing into the world of soft furnishings and linen with a collection that will beautify any home. Iggy Fenech indulges in some pillow talk to find out more.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW MIRABELLI

IT’S BEEN five years since Saz Mifsud burst onto the scene with her scarf collection that featured vivid and eclectic nature-inspired patterns printed on silk chiffon and silk satin.

Since then, the young designer has built on her brand, regularly introducing new creations – including silk handbags and purses, headbands and silk bow ties for him. Nevertheless, it’s her latest collaboration that is pushing her out of her comfort zone and getting interior designers talking.

“It’s been quite an intricate process,” Saz explains. She’s talking about her new collection of soft furnishings that includes upholstery fabrics in a blend of linen and cotton, which can be used for armchairs, sofas and footstools, as well as cotton sateen cushion covers, bed spreads and matching pillowcases.

“I worked very closely with the interior designer at Form – the lovely Sara Brincat – and together, we selected fabrics that would make sense for soft furnishings. In other words, upholstery fabrics that are durable and have passed abrasion testing, and fabrics for bedding and cushions that are soft and washable. Both textiles had to allow the patterns to shine through.

“Then, we looked at my designs from several collections, and we edited them to fit within the dimensions of each object. So, the floral and bird patterns were tailored to fit the size of an armchair and then made smaller for cushions, for example.”

The result is a collection of fabrics that feels more matte than Saz’s usual designs, but which turn any piece – whether modern or classic – into a frame for the designer’s unmistakable work. Indeed, even at the Form showroom, everything from the square cushions to the luxury bedspreads catch the eye immediately.

“Just like the silk used for my scarves, the new fabrics are digitally printed abroad,” Saz adds. “In fact, I feel like it’s all a continuation of the work I have done as I’ve always seen fashion and interiors as canvases… I love adorning my home with beautiful things that make me smile; and that’s what I wanted to give clients with this collection.”

Saz’s home collection was officially revealed just a few weeks ago, but the designer already has a fashion collection ready to be launched as part of the celebrations for her label’s fifth anniversary. Yet, this time, on top of new designs for scarves, headbands and envelope clutch bags in pure silk, Saz will be introducing another completely new concept for her brand.

I feel like it's all a continuation of the work I have done as I've always seen fashion and interiors as canvases... I love adorning my home with beautiful things that make me smile; and that's what I wanted to give clients with this collection

Their expertise when it comes to soft furnishings allowed us to achieve such a completely thought-out product. Indeed, it's very exciting to see their clients looking at my prints, and imagining them in their homes

“I’m so excited to launch a new collection of leather handbags,” she reveals. “Based on my round, silk handbags – I’ve always loved the circle for designs – the new bags are made to be more durable and to be easily taken from day to night. Having said that, they will still feature my designs printed directly onto the leather; a process that is taking place in New York.”

In the conversation about Saz’s patterns over her brand’s different eras, it is impossible not to delve into her beginnings when, as a young girl, she would experiment with colour. In fact, Saz is also an accomplished painter who’s had a number of solo exhibitions, namely one at Palazzo de Piro in Mdina and another at the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in Attard.

It was rather unsurprising, therefore, to discover that she excelled at prints, colours and patterns during her university days at Central Saint Martins and the University for the Creative Arts in the UK.

Yet, what makes Saz’s approach to pattern even more special is the idea that her work could be more than just an item for ‘the now’.

“I don’t do ‘seasons’,” she says. “My collections are never defined by when they are made. I believe that all my creations should work together and that they should be timeless. A scarf can be a wonderful family heirloom and, in the same way my grandmother gave me her scarves a few years back, so will people who have bought my scarves and accessories be able to pass them on to their grandchildren in the future.”

And that is definitely something that could happen with Saz’s interiors collection: as statement pieces that can adorn any space no matter the décor, the high-quality upholstery fabric is something that can be cherished for generations to come.

“I’m very grateful that Form approached me to explore this world of interiors. Their expertise when it comes to soft furnishings allowed us to achieve such a completely thought-out product. Indeed, it’s very exciting to see their clients looking at my prints, and imagining them in their homes,” Saz concludes.

THE PRINTS, WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT FORM IN MSIDA VALLEY, CAN BE USED WITH SELECTED ITEMS AT THE SHOWROOM, ADDING A GORGEOUS NEW LAYER TO THE DESIGNS ON OFFER. SAZ’S OTHER WORK CAN BE EXPLORED AT WWW.SAZMIFSUD.COM