Craftboston last weekend featured one of my favorite eco friendly producers of handmade work: Iro Design, founded by Peggy Russell. American Craft Magazine also recently highlighted Iro, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.
Iro creates one-of-a-kind bold textiles using a process akin to painting by watercolor. Russell and her team lay silk cloth out on a heavy cotton denim drop cloth on long tables in their studio in Boston's artsy South End neighborhood.
They then mix and hand paint dyes onto the silk. Some designs are drawn first while others are created on the spot, using a sponge brush. Black lines are drawn on top to finish off the designs.
The pieces worn by the model are from Iro's gorgeous Resort Collection, their latest. Don't you just love the bold, playful patterns?
Photos: Connie Johnson of Miami Beach photographed by Liam Crotty of Kennebunk Beach ME and Miami Beach FL.
The cotton dropcloth, which takes on the patterns and colors of the painted silks, is recycled and crafted into bags and housewares. Aren't the Canvas Cinch Sack shoulder bag (below) and Sling Sack canvas bag (below that) just adorable?
Russell's inspiration for Iro was her desire to create art to wear and to have fun doing it. I love the layering of colors and light hearted patterns in all of these pieces.
Wearing Iro could be a great way for some of us to break out of the humdrum patterns of the work week. You can see more of this terrific work at Iro Design and Gallery Five.
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