ORLA
ORLA
Luxury couture cushion
Handcrafted in Ireland
by designer-maker Katie Larmour
Large contemporary patchwork
Inspired by a summer’s backpacking around Scandinavia observing beautiful simplistic design.
Part of a collection that won Katie Larmour Design a place with the ‘British European Design Group’ in 2015 and was then exhibited in New York Design Week in 2016 at ICFF.
(NB. The image in ‘moss green’ patchwork was a private commission in the Caribbean in 2015 and a one-of-a-kind set as created with vintage fragments)
Product Details:
100% pure, traditional Irish Linen sourced from one of the last remaining mills still active in Ireland.
Colours in our signature combination of natural oatmeal-toned undyed linen - the shade of the flax plant itself - and classic pristine white.
Natural thread, discreet concealed dress zip.
Artisan cut pattern, machine stitched and hand finished.
20 x 20 inches (approx 51 x 51 cm)
These are made to order, lead time approx 1-2 weeks.
Every so often this product may be available in a vintage cloth (prices differ).
Care:
Hand wash cool, line dry, iron flat, can be dry cleaned, not suitable for tumble drying. Recommend a 22” filler for a plush look.
The Concept
Our colour palate is very simple, its neutral tones connecting to the earth, conveying a serene and timeless purity. It creates a vision of light, airy, fresh, calm and peaceful surroundings, perfect for a beach house in the Hamptons. The rawness of the Irish linen texture captures the essence of nature and our rich heritage. Our cushions look their best large and oversized, and just that tiny little bit wrinkly.
Construction
Each piece has been carefully constructed with precision and attention to detail using natural fibres, that is natural cloth, natural thread, natural lining and high quality duck feather and down fillers. We embrace traditional handmade artisan skills so each cushion has a precious individual beauty. Our patchwork technique is from a tradition of earlier times in Ireland, but here we are giving it a luxuriously contemporary and minimalist twist.
Inspiration
Inspiration for this collection of contemporary patchwork designs comes from various places. Some patterns are a reflection of Ireland’s rich tapestry of farmland with the luscious quilt of agricultural fields in nature’s varying hues and textures translated into minimalist shapes of abstracted line and block form. We are also influenced by the shapes and forms of the pioneering modern abstract art movements De Stijl and Suprematism in which a poetic geometric purity is evident.
Our images detail wall tiles from the old Conway Linen Mill, metal sculpture from Gardens of the Ulster Museum and a private commission in the Caribbean.
What Makes Irish Linen So Special
Known as ‘the aristocrat of textiles’ and referred to as ‘white gold’ it really is a superb and unique fabric. Katie Larmour Design studio is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the home of the Irish Linen industry. Ireland was the world leader at the height of linen production a century ago, and what once was a cottage industry and then turned large scale, has now come full circle. Irish linen is again produced in small quantities today to a luxury niche market. We are passionate about keeping this wonderful textile alive. To add to its desirability in this modern world of today Irish Linen has plenty of appealing eco-friendly properties: it is cultivated using little water, without fertilisers or pesticides; it is sustainable and the whole of the natural plant is used making it a waste-free crop. Basically grown as a weed it is transformed into the most luxurious of fabrics today. The oatmeal colour is unique in that it is a mixture of the unbleached raw colour of the natural flax plant on the weft intertwined with white on the warp, resulting in a beautiful mottled effect. All our Irish Linen is certified by the Irish Linen Guild.
Order Notes:
studio@katielarmourdesign.com
Lead time estimated one week.
Other Colours:
We have a limited amount of Irish Linen fabric in vintage greys to make the patch in.
The 'lichen green’, which is featured in our photograph, was a one-of-a-kind commission made from a vintage Irish Linen.
We also create bespoke one-of-a-kinds as well as small batches in this design using exquisite fragments of antique French silk.
Trade Notes:
This design will always be available in oatmeal and white.
The reverse colour scheme can be ordered, with an oatmeal and the patch white.
International customers may inquire for a cushion cover only, without fillers, if preferred.