Imagine walking across a broad expanse of carpet that makes you feel as if instantly you have been transported to an arid Australian landscape. As if you are “walking on Country”, rather than traversing the width of a foyer, or open plan space.
Helena Geiger, a contemporary textile artist from Sydney, and an Indigenous Australian woman of Gumbaynggir heritage has just launched her first commercial carpet collection, entitled Sandhills, with Milliken.
Watch the video of this collaborative journey here.
Geiger’s specialisation is in textiles and her work, which looks to the natural environment and landscape for inspiration, carries this exactly captivating quality.
Her creation of pattern and colour, which so evocatively captures the landscape and nature with which Geiger surrounds herself, is produced using techniques of Batik and Shibori, dip dyeing, and hand painting processes.
Working with Milliken through its “Reconciliation Through Design” initiative, Geiger worked in a deeply collaborative manner with the Milliken design and manufacturing teams. This enabled Milliken to capture the narrative and ‘handwriting’ of Geiger’s pieces. In doing so, Milliken has translated Geiger’s original designs – as well as details unique to the textile-making techniques she uses – into a carpet collection that can be used in commercial environments of all types and sizes.
“Milliken understood the culture and where I was coming from, they were very respectful and I felt straight away I was in really good hands,” says Geiger of the collaboration.
“The “Reconciliation Through Design” initiative creates pathways beyond expectation… To diversify into Indigenous design is something I always hoped would happen one day,” she says.
The Sandhills design is almost like walking on Country again and connecting with our land.”
Watch the video of Geiger’s journey with Milliken, including key interviews with Geiger and Milliken’s creative director, James Mfula, and exclusive footage of the Milliken collaborative process.
Read more about Milliken’s Reconciliation Through Design initiative here.
Explore the full Sandhills commercial carpet collection here
Find access to the Sandhills brochure here
Milliken
millikenfloors.com.au
Helena Geiger
helenageiger.com.au
