Designed by the Universal Design Studio, the interior of Mulberry’s flagship Paris store emphasizes British craftsmanship and the brand’s dedication to custom designed materials. Known for their expertise in crafted leather goods, the store’s luxurious interior atmosphere features pale oaks, marble, limestone floors and of course, striking leather works and leather tiles. Here, we take a closer look at the bespoke leather tile design of London-based textile artist Genevieve Bennett, and how her materials lend to the creation of an ultimate luxury environment.
World renowned for their custom leather design, Mulberry asked London-based textile artist and Spinneybeck collaborator Genevieve Bennett to design a bespoke pattern exclusively for Mulberry that focuses on the luxury leather finishes used in their stores globally.
Drawing on the heritage of the brand its English traditions, the result is diverse yet distinctive expression of influences leading to her ‘Tudor Rose’ leather tile design. The design is laser engraved on full grain, vegetable tanned Belting Leather tiles, creating a striking bespoke backdrop and combining the beauty and warmth of a natural leather with the precise detailing allowed by laser technology.
Influences for the pattern came from the ornate carved stonework of Wells Cathedral in the heart of Somerset, specifically the floral motif mounted above the fluted medieval archways was an important influence. Studying sculptural form and it’s response to light and shadow has always been a key component of Genevieve’s leather work and provided the basis for the stylized floral motif.
Further inspiration came from the intricacy of Tudor knot gardens, Elizabethan Mazes and Medieval English black and white timber paneling. By studying the interlocking and endlessly connecting structures of Tudor mazes and knot gardens, Genevieve developed a deceptively simple repeating lattice structure, which forms the basis of the design. The design was then crafted, distilled and refined through repeated drawing. Additional linear shadow detailing was added to add give depth and form to the design, reminiscent of the original carved stone-work it was inspired by.
‘Tudor Rose’ was finally rendered using a detailed and precise engraving technique into premium quality cream saddle leather. Repeated in symmetrical formation, the pattern evokes the cultural origin of the piece whilst feeling unmistakably contemporary.
You can explore further this and other leather tile designs by Genevieve Bennett in our material collection here.
Photos: Kristen Pelou