The Fabricnation story

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "The Fabricnation story"

Barbra Nash
5 years ago
Views:

The Fabricnation story Fabricnation was established in Cape Town in 2007, but it has its roots in a bond forged two decades earlier when its principals, Jane Solomon and Jann Cheifitz began printing

"Jane-and-Jann" wasn't a company or even a label, but it was a friendship, partnership and collaboration whose printed-and-painted T-shirts, clothing and home furnishings became widely known in the

1 The Fabricnation story Fabricnation was established in Cape Town in 2007, but it has its roots in a bond forged two decades earlier when its principals, Jane Solomon and Jann Cheifitz began printing together in a garage, whilst at Art School, inspired by their shared love of the African textile tradition. "Jane-and-Jann" wasn't a company or even a label, but it was a friendship, partnership and collaboration whose printed-and-painted T-shirts, clothing and home furnishings became widely known in the alternative creative community at the height of the anti-apartheid era. Their designs expressed an emerging aesthetic at the time that reached for a post-apartheid sensibility that celebrated its grounding in contemporary urban Africa while comfortably in conversation with its global peers. The partnership became dormant by the early 90s as Jane and Jann found themselves in different corners of the world, exploring new challenges. They had worked together in London and then returned to Cape Town where they continued to design and produce numerous ranges of clothing and home furnishings as Icon prints. Jane took this business forward and extended it to create interior design concepts, while Jann moved to New York in the mid-90s. Jane also works extensively as a product developer and skills trainer with urban and rural crafters. Her work in transferring skills to empower marginalized sectors of society were also the driving force behind the acclaimed "Body Maps" series where HIV-positive women used visual media to tell their truths. In New York, Jann created a new label, Lucky Fish, designing, producing and marketing an extensive range of printed T-shirts and home furnishings which are sold in stores all across America, as well as in Europe and Japan. But 13 years later, their shared aesthetic instinct drew them together again to launch Fabricnation, a new design house that will produce and market textile and wallpaper collections. Fabricnation aims to bring variety, diversity and fresh visual perspectives to the textile marketplace through collections designed by Jane Solomon and by Jann Cheifitz, as well as by selected established and untrained artists with whom they plan to collaborate. Having built 20 years of experience in textile design in different parts of the world on their original artschool impulse, Jann and Jane still remain primarily inspired by the African textile tradition, rendered in a modern urban context with its blending of diverse sources and influences to create the fabric of a nation.

THE COLLECTION The Fabricnation collection includes 14 prints designed variously

Africa. All designs work on a 64cm vertical repeat.

takes center stage surrounded by ostrich fronds, rampant lions and birds.

crowd photographed at what might be an outdoor political or union rally, a church

2 THE COLLECTION The Fabricnation collection includes 14 prints designed variously by Jann Cheifitz and Jane Solomon: All fabrics made and hand printed in South Africa. All designs work on a 64cm vertical repeat. AFRICAN ROYALE A playful African treatment on traditional damask, the royal lion takes center stage surrounded by ostrich fronds, rampant lions and birds. Fluorescent Pink on grey upholstery fabric. White print on natural linen fabric. Silver print on grey fabric. CROWD An abstract pattern that on closer inspection reveals a section of a large crowd photographed at what might be an outdoor political or union rally, a church service or a civic meeting. Flipped horizontally and vertically, it creates an almost Rorschach image. Brown print on cream hopsack fabric. Black print on white or cream hopsack fabric.

VELD An African savannah rendered in repeat in the

window onto the great outdoors that is at once

Blue grey print on cream hopsack fabric NUMBER 1 A

3 VELD An African savannah rendered in repeat in the style of a 1970s landscape photograph, offering a window onto the great outdoors that is at once expansive and calming. Olive print on cream hopsack fabric. Brown on cream hopsack fabric. Blue grey print on cream hopsack fabric NUMBER 1 A mix of images inspired by the packaging of basic South African household products. Printed on hopsack and natural linen - reminiscent of sacking used to package products in the past. Navy on natural linen fabric. Candle blue on white hopsack fabric.

CHAMPION Images from the packaging of basic South African

stripe a take on soccer team shirts and traditional french

Red print on cream hopsack fabric Navy print on cream

ACES A mix of images, mealies, cards, stars and fish,

products combine to create a strip repeat evocative of

4 CHAMPION Images from the packaging of basic South African household products have been combined to create a playful stripe a take on soccer team shirts and traditional french striped tablecloths. Red print on cream hopsack fabric Navy print on cream hopsack fabric Green print on natural linen fabric FOUR ACES A mix of images, mealies, cards, stars and fish, inspired by the packaging of basic South African household products combine to create a strip repeat evocative of West African textiles. Gold print on brown upholstery fabric 1.45 m wide Orange print on cream hopsack fabric

BOKKIE A reinterpretation of the springbok, inspired by art

Brown upholstery fabric Silver or Bronze print on cream

function as a medium of exchange by transforming it into

taped to the walls of bars and restaurants all over the

In the new South Arica wild animal iconography replaced

5 BOKKIE A reinterpretation of the springbok, inspired by art deco textiles and the South African railways Gold print on Brown upholstery fabric Silver or Bronze print on cream hopsack MONEY ANIMALS This textile frees a banknote from its function as a medium of exchange by transforming it into something decorative- as seen when foreign banknotes are taped to the walls of bars and restaurants all over the world. In the new South Arica wild animal iconography replaced controversial colonial figures on the Rand notes Purple print on cream hopsack Green print on cream hopsack Blue grey print on cream hopsack

6 SEASCAPE A west coast wave is rendered in repeat. Evocative of seaside holidays spent by the sea. Indigo blue print on cream hopsack Turquoise print on white hopsack OLD POSTCARDS A collage of a collection of old postcards from a faded South African past. Black print on White hopsack: Brown print on cream hopsack: Digital (full colour on white hopsack)

POSITIVE POWER A floral pattern inspired by late 60s early 70s

created by mutating, collaging elements from a variety of medical

The viruses (flowers) become weird and wonderful symbols.

living with HIV who have grown to live and love free positive lives.

print on cream hopsack White/ Silver print on dark grey upholstery

This print investigates the strange succulents that are part of the

Printed with roots the textile celebrates indigenous South African

7 POSITIVE POWER A floral pattern inspired by late 60s early 70s folk/hippy textiles - The flowers that make up this pattern have been created by mutating, collaging elements from a variety of medical diagrams of the HI virus. The viruses (flowers) become weird and wonderful symbols. This fabric honors the courage, dedication and power of all people living with HIV who have grown to live and love free positive lives. Red print on white hopsack White print on red upholstery fabric Black print on cream hopsack White/ Silver print on dark grey upholstery fabric LILIACEAE A variation on a traditional botanical/floral print This print investigates the strange succulents that are part of the family, Liliaceae. Printed with roots the textile celebrates indigenous South African flora and the healing properties, muti, associated with these plants. Lichen green print on dark grey upholstery fabric Chartreuse green print on white hopsack Black print on cream hopsack

ALOES AND LACE Aloes and lace is a playful evocation of frontier

An oil lamp replaces electricity; water is pumped by harnessing the

print on white hopsack TOILE DU JOZI The Toile du Jozi design tells

Jouy fabric but instead of depicting typically French rural scenes it

8 ALOES AND LACE Aloes and lace is a playful evocation of frontier traditions of self sufficiency and simplicity. An oil lamp replaces electricity; water is pumped by harnessing the power of the wind and a lacy curtain frames our view of a harsh landscape. The economic, social and environmental crises of our times have put us back on the frontier of the unknown. Grey print on white hopsack Chartreuse green print on linen Indigo print on white hopsack TOILE DU JOZI The Toile du Jozi design tells the story of an African city rendered in the faded style of a Toile du Jouy fabric but instead of depicting typically French rural scenes it shows Johannesburg (Jozi) street scenes. Urban meets rural, formal meets informal, tradition meets modernity. Magenta print on cream hopsack Black print on cream hopsack Blue/grey print on cream hopsack

OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: If you are interested in our other products please e-mail us for a price list and further product specifications Cushions (45cm x 45cm) Landscape cushions (43cm x 66cm)

9 OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: If you are interested in our other products please us for a price list and further product specifications Cushions (45cm x 45cm) Landscape cushions (43cm x 66cm) Cushions (60cm x 60cm) Big Cushions (73cm x 73cm) Tablecloths Small (1.4m x 1.4m), Medium (1.4 x 2.3m ), Large (1.4m x 3.05m) Tote bags (A4 book bag) Saddle bags (one strap shoulder bag) Mini Bolts 2.5m x 1.5m lengths overlocked top and bottom. Teatowels WHOLESALE PACKAGE: Wholesale prices available for resale/trade purposes only. Minimum wholesale/trade orders start at 20m or orders (for resale only) of over R2500 Within the bulk order of 20m there is a mininmun order of 2.5 meters per design and colour way. A 5% cutting fee will be added on all lengths under 2.5m Further discounts available on orders of 201m or more of one design and one print colour. For orders over 25 meters fabrics can be customized. (Fabric colours subject to availability.) Postage & handling fees are not included in price. 50% deposit required on all orders placed. Balance to be paid on delivery. An 8% banking fee is payable on international deposits. Delivery 2-3 weeks after ordering (deposit made) or as negotiated. Any cancellation or changes to an order must be made (in writing) within 7 days of placing the order. Fabric colors are subject to availability. Substitutions will be made with approval from client only. Perfectly imperfect all fabrics are hand printed. Variations in color and print may occur WASHING INSTRUCTIONS: Wash fabrics at 40 degrees Celsius. Iron with a cool iron. Iron paste prints on the reverse side of the fabric. Do not dry clean or tumble dry fabrics. OTHER SERVICES: Designs can be reproduced as wallpaper on order. Minimum order 10m. Scale of print and colour can be adjusted. Prices available on request Imaguarding (natural transparent finish) water and oil repellent available at additional 30/m. DESIGN PROJECTS We are available to design exclusive and produce theme/site specific textile and wallpaper designs according to your brief We are able to develop these designs in discussion/collaboration with you We are able to work within given time frames and budgets. A design fee is payable on all customized design work the same design may be used for wallpaper and textiles.this design would then belong to you. We are able to print on a variety of fabrics silk, cotton etc and willing to experiment with printing onto new materials. Trade/wholesale prices will be subject to varying cost of fabrics / paper etc used. Quotes given individually depending on the scale/nature of the project If you are interested in working with us on one of your projects feel free to contact us. COLOUR Please note: Screen colour is not a true representation of print colour. PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR ORDERS f.nation@gmail.com CAPE TOWN: Jane Solomon or

Warner Textile Archive

Warner Textile Archive Silks Way, Braintree Essex, CM7 3GB www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk PRESS RELEASE 10 th February 2016, for immediate release: Warner Textile Archive Interior Fabric Collection created