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Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta inspires Battilossi’s carpet curation
'Magenta Hues' showcasing pattern and texture experimentation
Image: Courtesy of Battilossi
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Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta inspires Battilossi’s carpet curation

The Turin-based brand reinvents millenarian tradition for a curation of contemporary rugs in hues of crimson red.

by STIRpad
Published on : Jan 13, 2023

After Barbiecore convinced us that it was the bees knees of 2022, raiding our lives and closets, a new colour unveiled by Pantone for 2023 caught everyone by surprise. Viva Magenta, the source of inspiration for a special curation of rugs and carpets by Battilossi—are a part of the 'Magenta Hues', representing the different characteristics of the colour, magenta. The Turin-based firm has been experimenting with delicate yarns with textures, patterns, and colours, and now offers a unique palette of 1,200 tones. Declined in large fields or refined details, playing with material combinations, embroideries, and overlapping textures, according to the brand, Magenta is a 'living' red that expands its horizons and transforms, representing a more inclusive and joyful future.

Established in 1959, a conscious expertise of textile art paired with exquisite craftsmanship is what defines Battilossi. The brand operates with the intent of combining elements that are currently trending and those that have remained in vogue for several decades, in order to curate patterned and textured oriental carpets, which are then woven by craftsmen from Nepal and Pakistan. While Nepal offers its sophisticated hand-knotted and handwoven weaves in wool, silk, linen, and nettle, among other materials, craftsmen from Pakistan imprint innovative textures on the rare wool of Ghazni sourced from Afghanistan. Traditional motifs are abstracted onto these intricately woven rugs to create an array of classy products suitable to be spread on the floors of offices and studio spaces run by artists, designers, and architects.

Avita, a flatweave rug--part of Battilossi's recent launch--woven out of coral-coloured threads, enhances the texture of the Ghazni wool. Intricate techniques such as kilim weaving and weft wrapping are used to express the character and materiality of the piece.

Inclined towards a style oriented for interior design professionals, Caleido Concept No.2, is not limited to a typical pattern, but can instead be customised in different colours, textures, and materials to adorn different interior spaces. This rug, like Avita, is hand knotted in Lahore, Pakistan.

Battilossi’s consistent research and experimentation in the realm of art, design, and craftsmanship led the brand to come across a relatively recent weaving methodology called the ‘handloom weave’. Inspired by American artist Mark Rothko’s colour fields and the Persian Mazandaran textile aesthetic, the rug brand's Fade collection--made up of high-quality hand-spun wool dyed in crimson shades--is a result of the newfound weaving technique.

Another rug design series, touted Series #1 by the brand, is suitable for formal and elegant interior settings. The series offers simple, geometric design and linear patterns with colour contrasts. While silk interspersed with wool enhances the tactility of the materials, plain sari-silk used to embellish its sides and ends, completes the look of the bespoke rugs. This play in the contrast of materials, textures, and colours creates an unexpected harmony. Meanwhile, Series #2, inspired by the traditional weaving techniques from Tibet, is an experiential outcome of patterns and techniques used to create handmade and organic carpets. These Nepalese carpets are a result of the artisans’ weaving capabilities to create traditional organic patterns, motifs and compositions.

Geometry, colour and texture combine to create a sense of movement in Tocca. The rugs are characterised by intricate, complex patterns with six overlaying textures that add a unique identity to each weave. Subtle texture and complex weave, combined with multiple layering, help create an illusive appearance on each rug.

Kalash takes inspiration from the Verneh rugs that originated in the 19th and 20th centuries. This ancient technique is used to create thick and durable fabrics. While the base of each rug is embellished with embroidery, giving it a three-dimensional effect, the ornamental motifs at the forefront offer a dynamic, visual treat to the viewers. Combining new suggestions with commonly seen motifs, the minimalist Veldt rugs are crafted as accessories to be inserted against interior products. The hand-knotted texture of pure Ghazni wool brings to us a palette of reds, ochre and blues which give a subtle but vibrant appeal to each carpet.

Battilossi’s contemporary designs are available for usage by creatives from the realm of interior design, product design and furniture design industries. The company’s focus on research and experimentation, combined with an eye for style and quality helps enhance interior spaces of both formal and semi-formal nature.

Text by Aarya Joshi

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