KnollTextiles Launches The Azuma Collection

New York, NY—KnollTextiles is pleased to launch Azuma, a textile collection inspired by the balance and harmony found in Japanese design philosophy and culture. The name Azuma means 'East.' Creative Director, Dorothy Cosonas and the design team studied dozens of books researching traditional Japanese motifs, fashion, costuming and arts resulting in 4 upholstery fabrics, Kabuki, Sashiko, Zen Wave and Kaya, that celebrate bold graphic forms and simple subtle beauty.

Supporting the Japanese design concept are 4 vertical products. Noren is the next generation of acoustic sheer with sound absorbing properties. Stencil is an embossed type II vinyl wallcovering while Calm is specialty wallcovering with wool content. Finally, Edo addresses the trend for a heathered natural looking material on the wall for wrapped panel application.  

The products of Azuma blend together beautifully in this cohesive and inspired collection.

 

Upholstery:

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese drama with highly stylized song, mime, and dance.  Kabuki felt like the perfect name for this graphic and impactful medium/large-scale pattern showing both organic and geometric elements in vivid striking colors. Kabuki is shown railroaded with a vertical stripe. Made in the USA.

Content: 38% Cotton, 26% Post Consumer Polyester, 26% Nylon
Width: 53”
Abrasion: 70,000 Wyzenbeek
Repeat: H: 2.25” V: 12”
Finish: Soil & Stain repellant
Colors: 5

Sashiko is a form of Japanese folk embroidery using the basic running stitch to create a patterned background. An understated and elegant piece died matelassé upholstery in a range of on trend soft and saturated colors.

Content: 98% Recycled Polyester, 2% Polyester
Width: 57”
Abrasion: 95,000 Wyzenbeek
Repeat: H:12”  V:22”
Finish: Water & Soil repellent
Colors: 8

Zen Wave is inspired by the soft undulating waves of raked sand in the Japanese Zen garden and motifs found in traditional Kimono design. Contrast stitching creates a subtle soothing wave motif on a soft cotton boucle ground in both neutral and saturated colors. Made in the USA.

Content: 44% Nylon, 36% Cotton, 20% Post Consumer Polyester
Width: 53”
Abrasion: 100,000 Wyzenbeek
Repeat: H:9”  V:12”
Finish: Soil & Stain Repellent
Colors: 8

Japanese for netting, Kaya is a two-tone allover texture with Crypton stain, moisture and bacteria resistant  finish. Kaya comes in a palette of fresh and unexpected colors made with 100% recycled content. Visual interest comes from combining 2 chenille yarns in the weft.

Content: 65% Post Consumer Polyester, 35% Post-Industrial Polyester
Width: 54”
Abrasion: 95,000
Finish: Crypton stain, moisture and bacteria resistant
Colors: 12

 

Drapery:

Noren are traditional Japanese fabric dividers, hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows. Noren is a semi-sheer drapery with acoustic properties allowing light to penetrate while offering sound absorption properties. Noren has up to a .65 NRC absorbing over 50% of sound energy when draped. The hand is crisp and dry.  

Content: 89% Trevira CS Polyester, 11% FR Polyester
Width: 66”
Colors: 7

 

Panel Fabric:

Edo is the former name of Tokyo.  It was the seat of power in Japan from 1603 to 1868. During this period, it grew to become one of the largest cities in the world and home to an urban culture. Our Edo is soft and textural panel fabric answering the need for a trending mélange/heathered look on the wall in colors ranging from fresh pops of color to warm and cool neutrals. Dry with a wool like appearance at a competitive price point.

Content: 83% Post Consumer Polyester, 17% Polyester
Width: 66”
Colors: 9

 

Wallcovering:

Stencil is an elegant embossed type II vinyl is created with a multi-step process utilizing 3 proprietary rollers including a linen emboss. A metallic wash captures high and lows of the emboss adding visual interest at the wall. Made in the USA.

Content: 86% Vinyl, 7% Post Consumer Polyester, 7% Cellulose & Polyester Backing
Width: 54”
Colors: 8

The wool content in Calm makes this paper-backed specialty wallcovering warm, soft and inviting. Colors Nutmeg and Sapphire are exclusive to KnollTextiles, adding to a sophisticated palette of warm and cool neutrals. Made in the USA.

Content: 65% Wool, 35% Post-Consumer Reccyled Polyester
Width: 54”
Colors: 8

 

About KnollTextiles

KnollTextiles is currently under the creative direction of Dorothy Cosonas, who combines clean, clear color with modern, elegant patterns and textures. In 2005 Cosonas was named the 11th Creative Director of KnollTextiles. Her inaugural collection won a Best of NeoCon Gold award—her first of 7 along with 6 Silver awards for Knoll. In 2008, she founded Knoll Luxe as the fashion forward luxury component of KnollTextiles where she has contributed her own work along with collaborating fashion designers such as Proenza Schouler, Rodarte and Maria Cornejo. Her work was a major part of KnollTextiles 2011 retrospective exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center and has been accepted into the permanent collection of Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian National Design Museum. Most recently, Cosonas received the 2016 IIDA Titan Award.  Founded by Florence Knoll in 1947, KnollTextiles is a division of Knoll, Inc., and maintains a marketing and design studio at 1330 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. 

Media Contact:
Caroline Ollivier
[email protected]
212-343-4117