You may know her as the Queen of Caftans, a title she earned in 1998 after launching her own line. Or maybe you know her as the coauthor of Design Alchemy (Sterling, 2002), which she wrote with her husband, interior designer and architect Ashley Hicks. You might also know her as the designer of an extensive line of fabric, wallpaper, soft furnishings and accessories sold at her eponymous London store, online at allegrahicks.com and at boutiques in North America. Last year, the fashion and lifestyle designer released a new line of home accessories, and her third collection of fabrics debuts in the fall, so if you don’t know Allegra Hicks yet, you will!
Style at Home Textiles seem to occupy a place close to your heart. Why is that?
Allegra Hicks I specialized in textile design in Milan, so patterns and fabrics are what I'm most expert at. But they're also what I love best. Designing a fabric, or a pattern for a fabric, is very creative; it's much like doing a painting -- you're inspired by layers of texture and colour. For me, the rest of the home is a natural outgrowth of those designs. When you live in a cold climate like England's, fabrics and rugs are the components of a house that set the tone. When I started designing fabric, everything was minimalist. We called it modern, but really it was plain. We didn't have the selection of geometric prints we have now. Then, I couldn't find anything I wanted for myself or my home. We had a Turkish kilim and very simple furnishings. One day, a client of my husband's saw my patterns and asked to have one made into a rug. It was much the same with my caftans. I wanted one but couldn't find it. I design things I want but can't find.
S@H So what is it that you want right now?
AH I'm working on a special project with fashion entrepreneur Lisa Bittan. It's a healing caftan. The fabric is woven in India, but beforehand it’s soaked in Ayurvedic plants that stain the fabric and infuse it with healing properties. Will it heal? Well, intention gives way to reality. If you believe in the healing power of the plants, then it will work.
Photos courtesy of Allegra Hicks Ltd., allegrahicks.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube
RSS