Clarissa Hulse is widely acknowledged as a luminary of British design, well known for her distinctive hand and her passion for colour and texture. Her initial collaboration with Harlequin in 2011, Kallianthi, was a runaway success and remains a best-selling collection; so it is no surprise that she has teamed up with the company again to produce another mouth-watering range of fabrics and wallcoverings.
Clarissa draws her inspiration from a variety of influences including her enduring passion for plants, flowers and landscapes happened upon during long country walks, a nomadic childhood and her half-Greek heritage. For Callista, which means ‘most beautiful’ in Ancient Greek, she has created an enticing and entrancing collection of woven fabrics, printed silks and wallpapers that display to breath-taking effect Clarissa’s trademark style: contemporary botanical designs coupled with intense colour.
According to Clarissa: “Working with Harlequin has proved one of the most rewarding collaborations of my career. I was delighted to be invited to work with the brand on a second collection, and I believe that Callista features some of my most exciting work to date. I feel privileged to have been given free rein with both colour and scale, whilst Harlequin’s access to advanced printing technology has allowed me to explore innovative metallic effects and textures.’
The exquisite fabrics include a silk and cotton mix jacquard weave, silk dupion prints and a beautiful voile that has been dip-dyed then embroidered and hand embellished. They showcase to perfection Clarissa’s flair and aptitude for interpreting the natural influences that inspire and enthuse her.
Her delightful wallpapers make an impact both individually or when used in conjunction with her fabrics. They are all printed on non-woven paper, which can be applied directly to a ready-pasted wall, making it very easy to hang.
Callista includes Angeliki – giant fennel silhouettes, first spotted by Clarissa on a deserted hillside in southern Greece; Kalamia – spindly reeds traversing bright silks; Filix – tessellating lady ferns pressed whilst on holiday in Grenada; Espinillo – acacia leaves found on Highbury Fields; and Meadow Grass – layers of swaying Wiltshire meadow grasses. English and Greek horizons are painted in bold watercolour lines to create the Harmonia Stripe design, as well as represented in the subtle ombré backdrop against which many of the flora are silhouetted. The collection also includes Hortelano, large digitally-printed panels that can be cut to fit a wall, creating a whimsical vista of goose-grass stems.
Clarissa rejoices in colour, celebrating its understated, natural tones and embracing its confident, vibrant shades with equal success. Her love for colour is reflected in the Callista collection, where rich emerald, moss and forest greens are introduced to complement her trademark shades of kingfisher, neon pink, paprika, slate, turmeric and zinc. Metallics lift so much of the collection into the sublime, providing shimmering gritty texture in some and smooth reflective surfaces in others.
Callista will be launched in early Summer 2016 and will be available via Harlequin’s network of stockists both nationally and internationally.
