Indian-Inspired Fabrics by Idarica Gazzoni

While reading a recent issue of Elle Décor I stumbled across a short piece on fabric and wallpaper designer Idarica Gazzoni, and was completely intrigued!

  Idarica Gazzoni is an Italian artist and designer, well renowned for her fresco work. However, over the past two years, she has turned her passion for turning walls into art into a full-on wallpaper and fabric design company. Gazzoni’s prints are hand painted onto natural fibers including linen, cotton, linen voile, and wool – but this isn’t the only natural element to Gazzoni’s work – the motifs in her designs are inspired by nature and the geometry of the natural world. The designs also reflect the Mughal history of southern Asia.  Mughal art is one of my passions so I had to learn more about Gazzoni’s inspiration.

Gazzoni’s collection is named after the Mughal princess Ajumand - the third wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. She was Shah Jahan’s favorite wife, but died giving birth to her 14^th child. Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in her memory. The Taj Mahal – the greatest example of Mughal architecture in the world - is actually Ajumand and Shah Jahan’s tomb, and an everlasting symbol of their love. Gazzoni’s fabric and wallpaper collection features 15 designs; one for Ajumand and each of her children.

                  The designs are a modern take on traditional Mughal motifs – arabesque curves, red and white floral patterns, and pointed dome shapes. Each pattern comes in warm, cool, and neutral hues to best fit the purchaser’s look. One of my favorite designs is called “Day Screen” and is a cloth representation of the stone jalis used on windows in Mughal buildings. I also love “Poppy Dance” and “Arjumand” because the colors and floral patterns remind me of the beautiful and intricate stone inlay work in the Taj Mahal.

Day Screen

Other patterns from the collection

Gazzoni is continuing the Mughal theme by creating patterns representing a fictional journey that Arjumand possibly could have taken across the Mughal Empire if she had lived. This theoretical journey allows Gazzoni to incorporate other motifs from around the world of Islam into her work. This can be seen in her “Turkish Moon” designs. There are also influences from Tibet, Iran, Pakistan, and Northern Africa. Gazzoni wonderfully captures both a fictional story and the true history from cultures around the world into designs to be used in every day décor. It is an incredible and beautiful feat.

Cameron Bruns is the founder of Boston Green Blog and a contributor to Merida, the premier source for distinctively designed natural rugs with a conscience for sustainability.