Most people return from a tropical vacation with a handful of souvenirs or—at the very least—a bottle of sand. Not Anthony Gianacakos. Instead, the founder of Anthony George Home Inc., brought back inspiration for his premier textile collection, Lagoa (meaning lagoon in Portuguese).
For most of his trip, Gianacakos stayed on Florianopolis, a beach island in southern Brazil that's prized for its physical beauty. "The terrain was very inspiring; the sea, the mountains, the lagoons, the foliage," the designer recalls. "I could stand on the beach and view all of these elements with one 360-degree turn." He also traveled to a smaller island called Campeche, which is now a nature preserve. "Brazil is known for precious natural stones, and we came across ancient engravings on rocks during our hike. I purchased four amazing geodes while I was there, which not only filled my entire suitcase, but inspired my Quartzo design." The wild life made a lasting impression as well. "The Macaco pattern was inspired by a dozen monkeys that I saw while hiking through the forest."
When textiles are described as "painterly," I tend to picture motifs that are watery, delicate, or feminine. Every brush stroke can be seen in these patterns, but Gianacakos's collection feels strong and dynamic, not fragile—the result of edgy and abstract line work combined with fearless color combinations. Says Gianacakos, "I think my fabrics bring a masculine boldness that is a great addition to the market." What do you think?
Anthony George textiles are available now at Studio Four in New York City, and will be available at MK Collection in West Hollywood beginning in March. Textiles can also be ordered directly from AnthonyGeorgeHome.com.
