De Le Cuona is synonymous with embroidered, stonewashed linen, paisleys and sumptuous velvets which drape luxuriously. For her new ‘Wild Tranquility’ collection, Bernie de Le Cuona has experimented with old and new finishing techniques at mills worldwide to create textures and patinas that will age beautifully, in colours inspired by rich shades of an Italian fresco and the chalky tones of gesso.
‘Fresco’ (top), a delicate companion to ‘Talisman’ (see last image), is washed twice over to give a lived-in air but the palette makes it a more romantic cloth. Combining opposites such as pale pink with chocolate brown creates unique schemes, while the woven chalky finish keeps darker shades soft.
‘Sack Cloth’ (bottom) is a combination of jute and linen. Full of natural character in lovely colours from cool blues and hot pinks to tones of greys and calicos.
‘Monet’ is a vintage-style linen scattered with floral embroidery. The cloth is woven, bleached and then embroidered – the thread is also bleached and then dyed using a specialist technique. Shades are: Canvas, Poplar, Haystack, Bridge, Brush Stroke, Row Boat and Morning Snow.
The gutsy linen below it is ‘Casablanca’ – it’s been washed, stonewashed, dyed and gently massaged to make this weighty cloth floppy yet full of life. It’s then embossed and dyed by hand in France to create shadows of damask. It comes in Cloud, Mist, Ash, Bay, Twilight, Sunset and Midnight shades.
‘Cavalier’ is the most sublime velvet with the silkiest pile in soft metallic shades. It adds an accent of contrast and glamour to this collection. 68% Viscose 32% Cotton, in Champagne, Armour, Sword, Saddle, Knight, Lead and Ale shades.
This damask-style design, ‘Talisman’, captures the richness of an Italian fresco, while the washing technique gives this 100% linen a special soft handle. It comes in Sunset, Storm and Thunder shades.
View the full de Le Cuona range at 150 Walton Street, London SW3 2JJ. They also have showrooms in New York and Moscow and distributors worldwide.