Celebrating 50 years of design and manufacture in contract textiles, Skopos looks back to 2001 and the eclectic stripes and ikat patterns of the Ocean Collection which are still making waves today…
Skopos continues to be inspired by past designs as it celebrates the 50 year milestone, and it was the Ocean Collection which brought the Ikat technique back to the forefront of fashion at the turn of the century, celebrating an age-old technique of patterning cloth, using techniques of tying or binding threads, which are subsequently dyed, prior to weaving. The practice required skill and precision, yet the result offered delicately organic and blurred patterning, beautiful in its imperfection. Patterning often seen in fashion and interiors, Ikat designs provided a watery, floaty feel.
Image credit: Skopos
A three-colour design, Pacific was produced using meticulous hand and digital separation techniques, to keep the feathered edges and retain a woven appearance. The design was originally printed onto cotton/ linen fabric using the flatbed printing machines in our factory in the early part of the millennium. As part of the anniversary celebration, Ocean Ikat is a modern evolution of the Pacific design. Using inspiration from the original artwork, the modern version takes the traditional Ikat motifs and amplifies the artisanal feel.
Atlantic Stripe has been inspired by the original design, Atlantic, from Ocean. An Ikat striped design, Atlantic was originally produced using flatbed production techniques and pigment inks. Emanating a traditional woven crafted stripe, the original artwork has been separated digitally to reveal the subtleties and fine details of the Ikat process. The modern digital printing process allows for more of the integrity of the artisan Ikat technique to remain, celebrating the original, hand-made process.
Ocean Ikat and Atlantic Stripe have been added to the 50th anniversary collection and are being sampled on the exquisite velvet Trevira base-cloth, Beau and Turin, linen-look, but will be available across the full base-cloth offered by Skopos. Both designs are being offered in two colourways for immediate order. For alternative colourways, in-line with minimum order requirements, the Skopos design team will be able to help.
Skopos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image credit: Skopos
