Langdon LTD...
Langdon has captured the principles of colour, vibrancy and design with a colourful carousel of cushions, rugs, throws and bags. Designed in Australia, each of the pieces in the Langdon collection are made by hand by talented weavers in Rajasthan, India who use ancient wisdom and traditional techniques, the finest materials and metallic threads to create an earthy, homespun vibe.
The business was born from an appreciation of colour, craftsmanship, community and above all, social responsibility, cofounders Delia and Phoebe Langdon regularly travel to India to shake the hands of their creators. By purchasing Langdon’s collection, décor enthusiasts will be helping artisans develop a sustainable income for themselves and their families ‘We spend a lot of time in India and wonder off the beaten path to immerse ourselves in the local communities to spend time with the artisans behind our brand,’ says Delia.
Enjoy a voyage of vibrant colour, craftsmanship and detailed embellishments in delicate shades of lavender, mint, rose, lemon, foam blues and dusty metallic that effortlessly contrast against wheat tones. Their collectoin features rugs, cushions, doormats, bags and more.
And what's more you can create your own couture with Langdon’s custom-designed rugs. Mix a little bit of this, with a little of that to produce a piece that’s perfect for you. Discover the magic of Langdon and celebrates the true art of weaving which is not merely a profession, it is the vein of Indian culture.
Keep reading for our interview with the lovely ladies from Langdon Ltd.
We love your style – where did your love of Indian traditional techniques and materials come from?
I moved to India at 23 to complete my design degree majoring in textile and fashion design. I suppose I became obsessed with the hand weaving work in the villages I visited for the year I was there. The artisans in the villagers are the most spirited and lovely people I’ve come across. They’re very proud of their lineage. I love the character that comes with the handmade aspect. Design wise the possibilities can be infinite when you’re working with century old techniques in a contemporary world.
India has the most amazing materials and fabric as well- they love embellishment and have some really creative ideas. They have no fear when it comes to being bold with colour and design.
Can you tell us about the creative process you go through when designing items for Langdon?
I spend a lot of time travelling with the business and I suppose I am influenced by what I see when I’m away. I’m in India a couple of months of the year and the colour combinations I see really influence the designing aspect. Our carry bags that we have just started selling were inspired by the bamboo lunch bag that one of the guys in India who works with us had. He thought I was mad- but we sampled it and it’s been really successful. It’s actually sitting in boutiques all across Australia and America now. So it’s those little things that catch your eye and make you come up with different ideas and products. I’m not very traditional in that sense- I don’t sit down and sketch pretty designs or pick pantone colours for months on end due to the time restraints of running a business.
There’s a huge amount of technical work that influences the design process. I have had to learn the science and chemistry behind everything. I luckily had grandparents who were scientists and have helped me learn that aspect of the production on a commercial scale. Grandad was a botanist and Grandma was a chemistry professor, they both taught me about the farming, chemicals and auxiliaries used in relation to the textile industry. I suppose I use this to be creative in designing- you can come up with some amazing techniques when you have this knowledge as well as create a sustainable business.
I work all year round on design development with my team in India. There’s a constant back and forth communication with new ideas. We all work really hard to try and push the boundaries and I suppose they like the fact that I encourage them to put their opinion in. The creative process is completely unconventional and a true collaboration. The key to our design success I think is to learn from our weavers and dyers. When you take the ego out of being a designer and take on other people’s knowledge and input, pretty amazing results transpire.
Where did your love of home wares and interiors begin?
Delia has always had an obsession with interiors- whereas I’ve always leaned towards fashion and textiles. She has converted me over the years. She gets very excited whenever she comes to India with me, with all the amazing furniture and textiles. I suppose when I moved to India, I began to garner more of an appreciation for home wares and interiors.
How would you describe your style?
Bold and contemporary, where fashion meets interiors. We both have a love of colour and an appreciation for handmade delights.
What do you think is the key to great design?
Having your own style would have to be the number one key. Being adventurous and not following the status quo.
Top 3 styling tips?
Delia and I are of the opinion that life can be tedious and monotonous a lot of the time so we love to create a bright, happy and lighthearted vibe.
1. Don’t be afraid of colour! It seriously brightens your mood and it is a must to inject it into your home. Beige can make you feel very dull. It’s great to mix neutrals and colour together.
2. Clashing prints and textures is our favourite thing to do. There’s nothing like a shaggy woolen cushion sitting next to a gingham and floral design. It’s surprisingly not offensive.
3. Invest in some beautiful furniture pieces- less mass market more good design. There are so many amazing independent product/furniture designers in Australia.
What can we expect next for Langdon?
We have some new product lines in the pipeline. Our accessories range has been expanded as it has been received so well. We are also launching a range of statement woven upholstery furniture pieces very shortly. Think stools, bench seats and ottomans. We have a lovely interior designer client in the USA who has forced us to create these. She has been using our rugs the last few months to upholster some beautiful pieces and we have promised her that we will take it to market.
Our launch last year in the USA has made for some exciting new ventures and opportunities as well.
Who are your favourite designers/bloggers/artists for inspiration at the moment?
I find a lot of inspiration from fashion. I’m currently coveting the likes of Paco Rabanne and Emilio Pucci in the 1960’s. I think it’s refreshing to look back at the greats of the past instead of being inspired by the current design world.
In terms of artists, my all-time favorites and constant inspirations are Gustav Klimt and Pablo Picasso. I think I can attribute my obsession with gold through Klimt.