Sonnhild Kestler’s Hand-Printed Scarf Pattern Translates to an Eye-Popping Fabric for Maharam
Zürich-based textile designer Sonnhild Kestler, known for blending folkloric and traditional motifs under her label S.K. Hand-Druck, has produced hand-screen-printed cloth for home and fashion accessories since 1988. Her references run the gamut from children’s books to religious cult imagery. Her latest collection for Maharam consists of three fabric and two rug designs, including this looker transcribed from a scarf. Kestler begins each pattern with paper cutouts painted in a distinctive mixed-gouache palette, then translates the motif to silkscreen. Without the aid of a computer program, she uses handy tricks such as employing a mirror to play with repetition. The resulting material, a blend of cotton and solution-dyed nylon, exhibits the designer’s penchant for cool graphics—here the namesake good-luck charm—and vibrant color.
