ABOUT THE ARTIST
Blackpop is an independent British label specialising in designing elegantly distressed wallpaper, fabric and upholstered furniture for the luxury market. Manufactured in the UK, Blackpop is proud of its artisan heritage and its roots in the heart of the industrious Midlands.
Consisting of Maxine Hall and Paula Moss, the quintessentially British design company updates historical imagery through the use of modern colour palettes and abstract mark-making. Blackpop’s fusion of vintage and contemporary ideas sets the brand apart from other luxury labels, with its pieces being equally at home in a modern house or period property.
Maxine has an expert eye for pattern and colour. Since covering her bedroom walls with newspaper when she was 13, she’s always had an anarchic take on surface design. She was introduced to the digital environment in the 1980s whilst studying at Westminster University for her degree in Photography, Film and Video. She also has an MA in Art and Media Practice. Her lifetime interest in digital media, art and design translates perfectly to her contemporary fabric and wallpaper designs.
Maxine Hall's unique designs exude an edgy punk-like take on the past, drawing on inspiration as eclectic as Tudor portraits, Abstract Artists, and the rhythm of Jazz. Blackpop's Fresco and Capriccio designs demonstrate the extensiveness of Hall's sourcing of visual references, layering imagery found within the Soane's Museum archive to create prints with a maximalist feel. Capriccio and the award-winning Fresco rugs demonstrate the montage-inspired aesthetic of Hall's work, carefully replicating the layering of imagery found within the original design.
'CAPRICCIO'
Capriccio has been designed by textiles designers Blackpop in collaboration with the Sir John Soane’s Museum. Using images from the Museum's archives, Blackpop's designer Maxine Hall has layered adapted imagery leaving us with an original and unique, gothic yet classic look and feel.
'FRESCO' | ORIGINAL
Fresco has been designed by textiles designers Blackpop in collaboration with the Sir John Soane’s Museum. Using images from the Museum's archives, Blackpop's designer Maxine Hall has layered adapted imagery leaving us with an original and unique, gothic yet classic look and feel. Fresco won Best Modern Design Select at the 2020 Carpet Design Awards.
'CAPRICCIO'
Capriccio has been designed by textiles designers Blackpop in collaboration with the Sir John Soane’s Museum. Using images from the Museum's archives, Blackpop's designer Maxine Hall has layered adapted imagery leaving us with an original and unique, gothic yet classic look and feel.
'FRESCO' | ORIGINAL
Fresco has been designed by textiles designers Blackpop in collaboration with the Sir John Soane’s Museum. Using images from the Museum's archives, Blackpop's designer Maxine Hall has layered adapted imagery leaving us with an original and unique, gothic yet classic look and feel. Fresco won Best Modern Design Select at the 2020 Carpet Design Awards
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Origins
Visionary Women shifting the Pattern
Behind every Knots rugs lies a story of artistry, tradition and collaboration. But woven even deeper into the fabric of our work is the story of women – visionary, resilient and driven by a desire to create something meaningful. This journal is a celebration of two such women: Bonnie, the founder of Knots Rugs, London and Dolma, one of our most trusted and long-standing production partners based in Nepal. Though worlds apart their lives and work are beautifully linked by a shared passion for rugs, deep respect for craftsmanship, supporting communities and a commitment to empowering women together.
Production
Natural Materials behind every Knots Rug
Each Knots rugs rug weaves a narrative rich not only in color and design but also in materials. The rugs are intricately crafted from materials sourced from the lush silk fields, the majestic Himalayan highlands, and the green hillsides covered with wild nettle. Our rugs are born from nature’s own palette, woven with materials that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful. At Knots Rugs, our work begins long before a single knot is tied. It starts in nature, where the finest, most ethical, and sustainable fibers are found. We work with all the different fibers in the world, from Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, wild silk, nettle, hemp, and cactus.
Production
How a Rug gets its Colours
When you’re thinking of a design for a rug, the first thing that might come to your mind is the intricate pattern or overall artwork. But behind the allure of each beautiful rug lies an important and complicated process which often goes unnoticed - the art of selecting colours.