Tribal Textiles and PATTERNITY Collaborate on New Homeware Collection: ‘Crackle Connections’

Tribal Textiles has collaborated with PATTERNITY on a contemporary homeware and lifestyle collection entitled ‘Crackle Connections’.

United by a shared love of pattern, craft and community; PATTERNITY were invited to Zambia to meet the artisan makers of Tribal Textiles. This collaboration celebrates the traditional process of starch batik, where the crackle pattern has been reimagined through PATTERNITY’s vision, resulting in beautiful, bold, hand-painted and handmade pieces.

Bringing together bold geometry with serendipitous crackle patterns, the range features homewares and lifestyle pieces including bed throws, cushion covers, kimonos, bags, wash bags, oven gloves and aprons in monochrome, dusk pink, blue dawn and elephant grey, with prices ranging from £28 to £245.

Inspired by their research trip, PATTERNITY co-founders Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham found inspiration in the details and textures of nature as well as at the local school. The crackle pattern was seen in the skin of elephants, tree bark and hot earth, whilst the geometric shapes appeared on the chalk boards at the Malimba School and in the buckets taken to collect water from the local bore hole.

“With our philosophy around connectivity to nature we sometimes find ourselves in conflict about whether we should even make product. Our collaboration with Tribal Textiles however has reminded that consciously created products have the power to give back and connect communities in meaningful ways”

Anna Murray, PATTERNITY

The starch batik process originated in Zimbabwe and Zambia, and Tribal Textiles has been using it since they began 27 years ago. Learning the heritage and the technique from the team of artisans, PATTERNITY’s inspirations and experiments form the foundations of the collaboration.

The full collection is available globally online at https://shop.tribaltextiles.co.zm

Tribal Textiles provides living wage jobs for over 100 makers, empowering artisans and supporting conservation, education and the local community. A percentage of the ‘Crackle Connections’ proceeds will go to supporting the educational programme at Malimba School, and other local conservation initiatives.