
Beatrice Larkin
Born: 1987
Hometown: Canterbury
Based in: London
Born: 1987
Hometown: Canterbury
Based in: London
Founded in London by designer Beatrice Larkin, the studio specialises in modern woven textiles, accessories and interior products. Not driven by seasonal trends, Beatrice’s distinctive, softened geometric fabrics have a timeless quality that are designed to be enjoyed and appreciated all year round.
The design process begins in Bea’s East London studio with her drawings taking inspiration from traditional weave structures, grids and graphs, West African textiles, The Bauhaus and Brutalist architecture. She then turns these sketches into jacquard weaves, playing with scale and repeat, focussing on the structure and design of cloth in equal measure.
All production takes place in England and Beatrice works with well-respected, highly skilled manufacturers who understand the care and attention needed for the high end textile market. The fabrics are woven in small runs at a jacquard mill in Lancashire and then washed and finished in the Yorkshire Dales. They are then sent to London to be made into throws and cushions, labelled and packaged, every step carefully considered.
The Italian spun merino wool used in Beatrice’s fabrics is more commonly used in the fashion industry for high end knitwear. Called the ‘Rolls Royce of merino’, the fine, soft fibres of the merino sheep give a beautifully soft and luxurious handle.
Bea comes from a family in the textile industry; her father, an interiors consultant and her mother, a textile designer. She was lucky to grow up surrounded by beautiful fabrics. This led her to study weave at Chelsea College of Art and Design, followed by a masters at the Royal College of Art. At Bea's graduation show in 2013 her woven fabrics were spotted by a buyer from Heals. It took a few years to source the right yarn and manufacturers but in Spring 2016 she launched her first collection which has now been stocked in Daylesford Organic, Heals, Folk Clothing, Kent and London and Tate Modern.
Beatrice designs in her London studio then works with a mill in Lancashire to jacquard weave her designs into luxuriously soft merino fabrics.
What inspires you?
I find inspiration in all sorts of places but it often comes from lines, patterns, shadows. Bold lines of Brutalist architecture, Bauhaus design, West African mudcloth patterns. Geometric patterns with a human touch. The hand versus the machine.
Describe your creative process.
I build mood boards, gathered inspiration then get my inks out. I like drawing on calico. I'll often make a series of marks, patterns and start to consider how they might look in repeat on a throw or a cushion. I'm always thinking of the end use, early on. Once I have a collection of patterns and marks I will scan them into my computer and start manipulating them changing scales and putting into repeat. I will also be thinking about the weave structures and colour combinations I want to use.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
hand drawn wovens
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Anni Albers, Gunta Stolzl, Joseph Albers, Paul Klee, Agnes Martin, Peggy Angus, Brent Wadden
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
The Jacquard loom
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Trust your gut
Where do you go for inspiration?
The Barbican
Education
Royal College of Art
United Kingdom, 2013
Awards
Jill Humphrey Cockpit Art Springboard Award
2016
Cockpit Art Clothworkers Award
2014
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Award
2013
The Worshipful Company of Weavers Award
2013
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers award
2012
Exhibitions
New York Now
United States of America, 2020
Decorex
United Kingdom, 2019
100% Design
United Kingdom, 2019
London Design Fair
United Kingdom, 2018
Design Junction
United Kingdom, 2017
Clerkenwell Design Week
United Kingdom, 2017
Pulse
United Kingdom, 2016
Press
Homes and Gardens
2017
House and Garden Magazine
2016
Country Living Modern Rustic
2016
Elle Decoration
2015
Fiera Magazine No 1
2015
Living Etc
2014
Angel Resident
2014
House and Garden Magazine
2014