Page 80 - AmericasMart: Market Magazine July 2018

Heavenly
on seven
Tactile interest drives creative design
A
Our sense of touch unites us all, regardless of where you’re from, whether you’re old
or young, male or female, rich or poor. Silky fabrics, nubby embroidery, smooth glass, supple leather...a variety of textures in an environment adds tactile and visual interest. To find a plethora of design options, buyers and designers need
look no further than floor 7 of building 1. You’ll find the DÉCOR | Light & Lifestyles collection, along with Home Accents, Home Furnishings, Fine Linens and Home Textiles exhibitors, each with their own tactile story to tell.
Diverse fabrics
No one knows better how texture unites cultures than Leo Kraidelman, founder of Karma Living. His company sources
unique, handcrafted home décor items from all over the world, including countries in South America, such as Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador; as well as India, West Africa, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
“We’ve specialized in textiles since the mid ‘90s, so we offer a wide variety of textures which result directly from the diversity of yarns as well as the weaving and knitting
techniques that we use on each collection,” says Kraidelman. His company works with textiles as varied as a blend of sheep and llama wool from South America, hand- stitched silk from Calcutta, and vintage mudcloth from West Africa.
“Textiles are a second skin for every human being,” says Kraidelman. “It’s what they
use to cover, protect, what they use to connect with each other.”
Aside from pillows, throws, rugs, table linens, and top of bed, the company
also specializes in embroidered ornaments and wall art. One collection is embroidered wall art based on painted animal faces
by American artists. The other collection
is based on the persona and designs
of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The designs are embroidered on satin, and embellished with sequins, lace, and beads. “The embellishments give life and shine and enhance that tactile experience,” says Kraidelman. “Ornaments need to shine and reflect light.”
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