"The Master Translator," a five-spread feature on Dorothy Cosonas and KnollTextiles, Metropolis Magazine website.
In its special textiles-themed September 2016 issue, Metropolis Magazine published a feature on KnollTextiles and the recent work of creative director Dorothy Cosonas. The release of the issue coincides with the start of New York Textiles Month, a city-wide festival taking place this September, dedicated to celebrating and promoting awareness about the burgeoning textiles scene in New York.
The feature, titled “The Master Translator” and reported by Anne Quito, takes a tour of KnollTextiles’ New York office and its rich arsenal of fabric swatches, archival materials, and inspiration collages. In the interview, Cosonas reveals the disparate range of sources that influence her work, which often include fashion, modern art, architecture, and personal heirlooms.
The article offers glimpses into Cosonas’ design process; along with her team, she works to meld her many influences into refined, contemporary products that live up to the impressive legacy of Knoll’s textiles division. “How to be current, but slightly ahead of the curve, and yet still be classic so people don’t get tired of it so quickly—that to me is the biggest challenge,” Cosonas remarked in the interview.
For its recent collections, KnollTextiles has collaborated with several young designers from the fashion industry—Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, and Maria Cornejo, among others—to create fresh, cutting-edge textiles. Cosonas and the KnollTextiles team work to translate and hone design concepts into usable fabrics while retaining the personal styles of guest designers. Occasionally, Cosonas will dip into KnollTextiles’ own archive for possible starting points, updating celebrated mid-century fabrics for contemporary application.
For a behind-the-scenes look into the fascinating world of KnollTextiles, find the latest issue of Metropolis Magazine online and on stands this September.
