At IKEA, we love the ability of textiles to freshen and transform a room. This year, we introduced several collections of limited textile patterns to add personality and charm to the home. Our very latest is the new FJÄLLTÅG collection.
FJÄLLTÅG takes as its starting point the meeting between the past and the present, the simple and the romantic, the mass-produced and the handmade. Inspiration has been drawn from Sweden during 1880-1920, a period when the country had one foot in the industrial age and the other in an agrarian society.
The collection draws on a time when the fabric itself formed part of the palette, and the colors were based on natural pigments. When patching and mending were part of a fabric’s lifecycle; a type of natural recycling where quilt covers were given new life as cushion covers or part of a patchwork quilt. FJÄLLTÅG is, in a nutshell, all about a love of needlework and textiles.
To quote designer Maria Karami:
“In times of anxiety and crisis we go back to what we know. Needlework, the process and background regain their importance. Handmade things offer a kind of reassurance.”
The patterns in the collection have their own stories to tell. The small designs on the rugs, quilt covers and cushions originate from wallpaper from 19th-century drawing rooms. The romantic roses were taken from a wood engraving dating from the early 20th century.
The era is also captured on the cushion designs. For example, a receipt from florist Madame Boilève in France, dated January 27, 1907 can be seen on the cushion below.
Pictures with a story give an emotional feeling to the designs. For example, a hundred years ago you’d have your photograph taken perhaps once or twice in your lifetime, and you’d put on your very best clothes. The photograph of the woman printed on the velvet FJÄLLTÅG cushion is a tribute to the women of that time.
FJÄLLTÅG brings out the raw and honest qualities of the material. Fabrics such as linen, cotton and velvet form a palette in themselves. The velvet alone creates a romantic contrast with the slightly more rustic fabrics. This is particularly obvious in the full-length curtains, whose heavy folds and variations fill a room with drama.
FJÄLLTÅG coordinates beautifully with a wide variety of styles; from traditional to the more modern.
How would YOU use the FJÄLLTÅG collection in your home? Show us on Share Space!
~Janice