S. Harris

A BADG LIFESTYLE LICENSING PROJECT

A curated collection of textiles, wallpaper and trim representing three regions of the world.

Published on December 21, 2020 by BADG

Through the decolonization of design, transparency becomes non-negotiable.

The future of design exists in the dedication of acknowledging the aesthetics that make our industry so innovative. In this time of Black liberation, responsible inspiration must be at the forefront of design. For far too long, we have been subjugated to visual communication that under-represents and undermines the Black artists, makers, and creatives across the African diaspora that are essential to the design industry.

Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) is at the forefront of this new world of design, with the ethos of responsible inspiration as our baseline for creativity that expands beyond the atypical Eurocentric methodologies. S. Harris came to us to curate a one-of-a-kind collection of vibrant fabric textiles, drawing inspiration from three different regions - East Africa, Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands. Our Makers, including Malene Barnett, Rayman Boozer, Linda Hayslett, Beth Diana Smith and Erin Shakoor, cultivated a collection that increases visibility for the rich history of design in each locale, without the common erasure of historical context that comes when an off-the-shelf brand releases a “Morrocan” line. In support of the release, we also created a social media campaign encouraging artists to find #responsibleinspiration for their work.

Both delicate and durable, the collection stays true to both our vision of a more inclusive design narrative for the future of textiles, as well as S.Harris’ commitment to offer the most exclusive patterns and designs to their customers by partnering with top contemporary designers from all segments of the design industry.