There’s a community of creative textile artisans and furniture makers right here in the Triangle, but if you haven’t discovered these designers, you wouldn’t be alone.
New Carolina, a free showcase of six Raleigh and Durham design studios this weekend will give Raleighites a chance to see and purchase their work.
The free shoppable event, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Junction West, will include six Triangle makers, three from Raleigh.
Port of Raleigh owner Ana Maria Muñoz discovered the designers’ work through Port of Raleigh and wanted to “create a dedicated time and place so other people can discover them” in a larger setting than her shop.
None of the featured makers have a showroom, so it’s a unique time and space to experience their work in a larger setting.
North Carolina has a legacy of furniture and textile making, but these makers bring a new and fresh perspective, Ana Maria says.
“Their process and their why is so important to each and every one of them.”
Who you’ll see at New Carolina:
Artish Studio, Raleigh: They create modular pieces that Ana Maria calls “functional art,” a mix-and-match variety of products from wall art to side tables and shelving. [site]
Erica Gimson Design, Raleigh: With experience in the textile industry for 20+ years, her artful pillows and fabric are created with a multidisciplinary approach, using “paint, hand dying, screen printing, block printing, collaged materials, cyanotype, and drawing,” according to her website.
Flitch Furniture, Raleigh: Imagine modular, modern-design furniture that arrives at your house in a flat box — but with better materials and design than that big box store. “Great function and really thoughtful,” Ana Maria says. [site]
Other Triangle area makers:
Grey Goods Studio, Durham: Hand-designed textiles from original paintings, prints and collages. [site]
Mike Newins, Durham: Unique furniture and objects, like an elevated blue squiggle table and a “soft isolation chair” that’s beautifully designed while serving a function to filter visual noise. [site]
Elijah Leed: Heirloom quality furniture maker with modern design. [site]
In addition to the six local studios, “Bernhardt Design will feature pieces from their collections with Raleigh-based creatives Raleigh Denim and Tift Merritt,” the press release shared.
Ana Maria sees New Carolina as a starting point for the Triangle as a hub for furniture and textile making, “one of the things that contributes in a bigger way over time, that this is a great area with contemporary design talent.”
This could be a place people move to if they want to create thoughtful furniture and textiles, Ana Maria says.
“If you wanted to pursue that, why couldn’t it be here?”
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