Soft focus: Slowdown Studio adds to its collection of art-inspired textiles
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Collectible art and design comes in all forms these days. Making a solid case for works of the textile variety is the Los Angeles-based label, Slowdown Studio, who's limited edition, woven cotton blankets feature the creative talents of artists from around the world.
Conceived by graphic designer Marc Hendrick, the label's curatorial approach is refreshingly simple. 'I like to find artists who are doing work that feels different and fresh. It doesn't matter what field they're in,' he says, adding, 'When we first talk to the artists, we select a few of our favourite works of theirs and ask them to channel that style. Most artists we work with have a specific style that's unique to them, so the brief really is just to be our favourite version of themselves.'
Slowdown Studio launches its fifth collection this week with colourful creations by Byzance Design Studio in Paris, the Texas-based painter Jonathan Ryan Storm, Hungarian textile designer Dora Szentmihalyi who's based in Barcelona and Marleigh Culver, an artist / designer residing in Virginia.
Slowdown Studio’s limited edition, woven cotton best blankets (opens in new tab) feature the creative talents of artists from around the world
'This collection has a painter, a digital artist, a textile designer and a graphic design studio [involved],' says Hendrick. 'It's probably our most abstract collection to date. There's a real focus on form and pattern that works both from a distance and up close. We've also fully embraced our love of pink in all of them, except the one black and white design.'
While there aren't specific themes to each collection per se, Hendricks has ensured that shared elements tie the designs together. 'I think it's really a style that resonates throughout all of our blankets. Organic shapes, unique hand drawn lines and patterns, and a soft color palette of pinks, yellows, greens and blues. All of the art has quite an imperfect feel about it, and using that style of art in textiles, which are also a little imperfect, is a perfect match.'
The 100% cotton throws are carefully woven in North Carolina, under the supervision of both label and artist to ensure that its realization is up to par. Hendrick says, 'I go back and forth with the artist at our weavers to make sure she has encapsulated everything about the original art in the textile version, which due to the nature of jacquard weaving, can be quite an art in getting the colours right.'
The collaborative nature of the project can often lead in other unexpected directions as well. 'Jonathan Ryan Storm originally produced a crazy colourful piece for us that we were going to use,' recalls Hendrick. 'We weren't able to find colours so bright that it had the energy of his original art, so we ended up making life a lot easier for ourselves and going with the black and white! In hindsight though, I think the collection works better with the black and white Collins throw, so it was a happy mistake.'
With its range of offerings set to expand to ceramics, accessories and stationery in the coming future, Slowdown Studio's creative efforts show no signs of actually slowing.
’Mayfield’ throw, by Dora Szentmihalyi
’Collins’ throw, by Jonathan Ryan Storm
’Porter’ throw, by the Parisian design studio, Byzance
Each of the 100% cotton throws are carefully woven in North Carolina with both the label and artist on hand to ensure that its realisation is up to par
’All of the art has quite an imperfect feel about it, and using that style of art in textiles, which are also a little imperfect, is a perfect match,’ Hendrick says
INFORMATION
Slowdown Studio's 'Season Five' is available now. Each throw is $230. For more information, visit the website (opens in new tab)
Pei-Ru Keh is the US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru has held various titles at Wallpaper* since she joined in 2007. She currently reports on design, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru has taken a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars and actively seeks out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Feast your eyes: Nadine Ghosn brings cutlery-inspired jewellery to the table
Nadine Ghosn’s Youtensils jewellery collection brings a playfulness to the functional forms of the humble fork, spoon and disposable straw
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Former builders’ yard transformed into a home and studio by Studio MacLean
This new project, a former builders’ yard in the Cotswolds, by Studio MacLean, showcases the design and build skills of Jason and Jenny Rose MacLean
By Jonathan Bell • Published
-
Herman Miller presents Alexander Girard posters from his panels designs
You can now buy Alexander Girard posters, inspired by his decorative panels, thanks to a new Herman Miller collection
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Oscars 2023 stage design: ‘a love letter to cinema‘
The Oscars 2023 stage design was entrusted to Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, the first female team to take on the role. We speak to Buckley about this momentous commission
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
New York farmhouse combines rustic and contemporary design
A project by design studio Arthur’s breathes new life into a farmhouse in Stuyvesant, New York
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show: behind the scenes of the stage design
Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show designer Willo Perron takes us behind the scenes of his stage design
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Liam Lee’s flourishing practice melds the natural and the domestic
Working with colour-saturated felt, Liam Lee creates biophilic furniture in his Brooklyn studio. His work was recently shortlisted for the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Female Californian designers celebrated in R & Company exhibition
R & Company presents ‘Born Too Tall: California Women Designers, Postwar to Postmodern’
By Tilly Macalister-Smith • Published
-
Adi Goodrich launches playful and cleverly efficient furniture collection
Adi Goodrich’s new furniture collection is rooted in simplicity and inspired by her childhood lumber yard visits and Enzo Mari’s Autoprogettazione
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Canoe Place Inn by Workstead opens in Hampton Bays, Long Island
Dating as far back as 1656, Canoe Place Inn is America's oldest inn, now reopening following a restoration project led by Workstead
By Pei-Ru Keh • Last updated
-
Matter Design and Sanford Biggers explore liminal realms in Detroit
The MIT-based design practice and American visual artist present a collaborative exhibition during the 12th annual Detroit Month of Design (on view until 17 December 2022)
By Siska Lyssens • Last updated