CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 2/10/2016

Beauty: Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial

Vlisco textiles are featured in Beauty, the catalogue to Cooper-Hewitt's blockbuster design triennial, opening to the public this Friday. Founded in Holland in 1846, Vlisco is known for its vibrant, patterned "Dutch wax" cotton prints, originally intended for the Indonesian market but popularized in West and Central Africa. There, local women traders are able to influence colors and themes, according to essayist Andrea Lipps, often naming the designs to resonate within local culture. "Traditionally sold in open-air markets by these local traders, the wax fabrics are fashioned into bespoke dresses and suits by local tailors."