How Teklan and Kirkby Design are bringing colour to the outdoors
‘I believe outdoor spaces are often overlooked in terms of colour, yet they are the perfect place to go bold,’ states Tekla Evelina Severin, known to most as Teklan. The Swedish colour consultant, photographer and designer is passionate about combining hues that boost people’s moods and make the world a brighter place.
It’s a skill and obsession that made her the perfect choice for Kirkby Design, the rebel textile brand run by Jordan Mould, to collaborate with on its new collection, which includes patterns called ‘Sunny’, ‘Basket’, ‘Unwind’ and ‘Picnic’, the pattern that gives its name to the range.
Teklan, whose favourite foods to pack for an al fresco feast – ‘a strawberry and lemon cake with whipped cream (preferably with edible flowers on top) and a watermelon, mint and feta salad’ – are fittingly colourful, selected a palette for ‘Picnic’ that runs the full spectrum from heat-of-the-day hues, such as sky blue, green and yellow, to sundowner shades of lavender, mauve and burgundy.
They are colours taken from the natural world (albeit dialled up to 10), and it’s the environment that is the other focus of ‘Picnic’. All the outdoor fabrics are made with 100% recycled polypropylene sourced from pre-consumer waste (a term that describes scrap plastic from manufacturing processes), with the textile using no water during its production process, helping to further reduce its carbon footprint.
‘Nature provides a striking backdrop, making it ideal for introducing vibrant hues that can create a colourful oasis,’ says Teklan. ‘Since outdoor spaces are open, the colours can breathe and blend harmoniously without overwhelming the area.’ Essentially, your garden (or home, these work beautifully indoors too) is the perfect playground to experiment with using bold and responsible fabrics. ‘Remember,’ adds Teklan, ‘decorating is all about having fun, so embrace it and enjoy the process.’ kirkbydesign.com
