Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 44
FEATURE
Courtney Brooks
Design Director
Unika Vaev
As Unika Vaev's new design director, can you tell us a bit about yourself and
your approach to designing textiles?
As a teenager, my parents would send me to New York City to spend my summers
with my aunt and uncle who lived in the West Village. They enrolled me in various
art classes including painting, pottery, and drawing. I was also exposed to the
museums of New York City at a very young age. It was these experiences that led
me to choose to major in interior design at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
I worked as an interior designer specializing in contract interiors for more
than 18 years. I then went on to pursue my passion for surface design and worked
for Tri-Kes Wallcovering Source, Pollack, and Luna in sales roles. While I do not
have a textile design background, nor do I consider myself a textile designer, it is
my extensive interior design background and passion for textiles that inspire me
to develop textiles for the Unika Vaev brand.
What was the inspiration for you latest collection of high-performance
textiles?
The Disc-O collection was inspired by the use of color, textures, and bold
patterns, in fashion and New York nightlife in the 1970's and early 1980's. The
continuation of the "hippie style" during the Polyester Decade was also
instrumental in developing this collection.
In light of COVID-19, there's a demand for more performance-based
products, how does your new collection perform?
The new Disc-O collection is all about high performance and ease of cleanability.
The blending of high-energy dyed nylons and polyester yarns allows for added
performance while also providing a lustrous hand and tactile texture. The
collection includes the pattern Bubbly, which is bleach-cleanable. Our pattern
Suede Plush is easily cleanable by using alcohol swabs.
During lockdown, what inspired you that you think might be the basis of a
new collection in the future?
During the lockdown, I was able to spend three months in Sullivan County,
surrounded by rolling hills, creeks, and the sounds of nature, which allowed me
the opportunity for reflection and inspiration. As I move forward to develop my
next collection, nature and solitude will play a major in terms of color, texture, and
pattern.
The Disc-O collection, from
Unika Vaev, was inspired by
the colors, textures, and bold
patterns of fashion and New
York nightlife in the 1970's
and early 1980's. It includes
patterns such as the bleachcleanable Bubbly and Suede
Plush.
44
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JULY 2020
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Contract Magazine - July 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract Magazine - July 2020
Contract Magazine - July 2020
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Product Focus
Designer You Should Know: Lois Wellwood
Planning for Change
Soft Surface Focus Insights from carpet and textile directors
Matrix: Workplace
Matrix: Education
Matrix: Hospitality
Matrix: Healthcare
Matrix: Materials
The COVID Shield
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Contract Magazine - July 2020
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Cover2
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 1
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Contents
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 3
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 4
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 5
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Editorial
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 7
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Industry News
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 9
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 10
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 11
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Product Focus
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 13
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Designer You Should Know: Lois Wellwood
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 15
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Planning for Change
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 17
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 18
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 19
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 20
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 21
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 22
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 23
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 24
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 25
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 26
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 27
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 28
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 29
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Soft Surface Focus Insights from carpet and textile directors
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 31
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 32
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 33
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 34
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 35
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Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Matrix: Workplace
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Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 54
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Matrix: Education
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Matrix: Hospitality
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 57
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 58
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Matrix: Healthcare
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 60
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - Matrix: Materials
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 62
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 63
Contract Magazine - July 2020 - The COVID Shield
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