The Graves’ Design Empire Grows

Although Michael Graves may not be superhuman, he is a super-designer. From leadership in the post-modern architectural movement to the hundreds of consumer products his enterprise has turned out, he is one of the few design talents in America who has entered the public consciousness. It seemed only a matter of time before Graves developed […]

Although Michael Graves may not be superhuman, he is a super-designer. From leadership in the post-modern architectural movement to the hundreds of consumer products his enterprise has turned out, he is one of the few design talents in America who has entered the public consciousness. It seemed only a matter of time before Graves developed a line of contract textiles, inspiration for which he says came from his years as a student studying in Italy. Glenn Stinson of C. F. Stinson, who distributes the line for Crypton Fabrics, explains that Graves conceived the nine patterns as his take on a trip through the Tuscan and Umbrian country sides. They range from Tuscan Toile, a fairly literal interpretation of a traditional toile de Jouy pattern (mixed with Graves’ recognizable signature drawing style) to Umbrian Village, a more contemporary rendition of a hill town landscape, to Umbrian Rain, an abstracted depiction of gently falling drizzle.

Michael Graves Collection
Manufacturer: Crypton Super Fabrics, available through C. F. Stinson
Products: textiles
Photos: Philip Berger

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