Spotlight On: The Nought Collective
New York, New York
Growing up in the endless expanse of the Canadian prairies gave Tracey Sawyer, principal and creative director of New York City-based Nought Collective, a particular perspective on both design and justice. "In the prairies, we just naturally have a sense of respect for the environment and a sense of awe that translates into a respect for people," Tracey explains. "It's logical that we're part of GoodWeave."
That sense of space, light and color has also influenced the Nought Collective’s designs. Tracey and four designers create their custom, hand-knotted Nepalese rugs using a monochromatic palette. With four colors (chalk, ash, charcoal and graphite) for their rugs of pure silk and blends of wool and cashmere, the artisans create subtle color changes and a luminescence emanating from the reflection of light on natural materials. One of Tracey’s favorites, "Phoenicea," nominated by Interior Design for Best of Year Design 2007, still mesmerizes her: "Every time the light changes or I view it from another direction, it changes."
The Nought Collective bases its rug patterns on the interplay of light and shadow upon metal and wire, a concept that grew out of an earlier incarnation of the company when it was creating award-winning furniture as sculptural forms from wire. Other design influences, such as those of Plains Indians and Ukrainian immigrant folk arts, are inspirations from a Canadian prairie upbringing.
"Upbringing" has also shaped The Nought Collective’s motivation for joining GoodWeave—the upbringing of the children whose families are weavers. "We wanted to be part of something tangible like the school programs. The GoodWeave certification program isn’t just about monitoring, it is about education," Tracey says. And while being a part of GoodWeave is an effective marketing tool, her decision wasn’t driven by business. "That's an added bonus," she says, "but the important thing is simply giving back."
Learn more about The Nought Collective designs and philosophy at www.thenoughtcollective.com.
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