'In Between the Fibers'

Thousands of years before Blackberries and e-mail, people communicated with one another using symbols, colors and shapes. They shared stories of their triumphs, their tragedies and their hopes for the future on their walls, jewelry, armor and furnishings.

Walk into any household and know that the family had lost a son in battle, or that they believed in an afterlife, by noticing one thing: the rug.

The first carpet to be found in an icy Mongolian grave 1949 dates back 2,500 years ago in Central Asia. The ‘Pazirik’ carpet of years past and the Middle Eastern and Oriental carpets of today follow the tradition of using motifs to transmit ideas, protect a household or offer a piece of good luck.

Woven in copper and light green fibers, the knotted ‘Pazirik’ carpet (above middle) bears a four-winged star at its center.

In other carpets, we see some of these most widely recognized motifs:

- The eye: Reversing bad luck and misfortune onto those with an evil glance, the eye protects those from others who wish to cause harm. Popular in the Middle East and Turkey, the eye motif appears in jewelry and other tokens.

- The tree of life: The bridge between the mortal and spiritual world comes from a verdant tree that continues to grow in the afterlife even after mortal death. Floral and garden designs stem from the belief in the afterlife. Not surprisingly, paradise is the Persian word for garden.

- The bird: Freedom. Liberty. The bird typically represents good news brought from afar.

- The head of wheat: To a civilization that long looked to agriculture to measure its wealth and success, the head of wheat symbolizes prosperity thanks to a bountiful Earth.

Take a look at a classic or modern rug and you will find that its pattern and design weave elements of folklore, history and mythology into its fibers. Boasting ingenuity, creativity and quality, these rugs will survive long after we are gone, only to tell our story to the next generation.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photo courtesy of landryandarcari.com; decorinnovation.com; and www.rugs-oriental.net

'To Cover or To Coverlet?'

The cold October spells, followed by pangs of warm weather, have me feeling a bit like Goldilocks. The fleece throw that I like to curl up in at night has me getting either ‘too hot’ or ‘to cold.’

I need something ‘just right.’

The dilemma brings me to the following three-part question: To cover? To cover less? Or to coverlet?

But before I go any further – what’s a coverlet, anyways?

The word originates from the French word 'couvrir,' which means 'to cover.' A coverlet is a lightweight bedspread that may be woven or quilted. Traditionally, the coverlet served as a decorative layer to cover thicker layers of bedding underneath.


I learned that people liked to use the coverlet as a throw blanket, as an under layer for baby changing stations, or even as a blanket for picnics. On slightly warmer days, the coverlet might be placed on top of a bed covered only in sheets for just a hint of warmth.

Its protective nature makes the coverlet a good choice for those with children and animals. A king size coverlet with juice stains or coated in animal hairs is easier to treat than a ruined, expensive feather down duvet.

But above all, the coverlet is designed to keep you cozy and comfortable.


This scallop-edged, three-piece quilted coverlet set comes with a coverlet and two-piece sham. In pastel colors like gold, turquoise, light green, pink and purple, the coverlet softens even the harshest of decors. Machine washable, the coverlet does not require a trip to the dry cleaner.

So let’s think about this. To cover? To cover less? Or to coverlet?

Too hot? The coverlet is easy to remove, fold and store. Too cold? Simply layer the coverlet on top of a heavier bedspread to keep the heat in. To coverlet? I think so.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of finelinenandbath.com and decorinnovation.com

'Unique Uniqlo'

The long-awaited +J Jil Sander for Uniqlo line landed in stores this month with the help from my friends at Décor Innovation, who outfitted the Japan and Soho stores with sheer, white display curtains.

An estimated 300 curtains were custom sized and made to order for the fast fashion retailer's first-ever collaboration with a designer best known for her minimalist, no-fuss aesthetic.

According to Décor Innovation, Jil Sander (whose own online store launched just two weeks ago) loved the curtains so much that the stores decided to keep them for further projects.

Sheer curtains in similar variations can be found now at Décor Innovation.

Sander is known for her exacting taste when it comes to producing high-quality fashion – even in the making of décor and architecture choices in the workplace. She applies the same rigor to the +J Jil Sander collection, which is Sander’s first stab at reaching the masses with pieces all priced under $150.

Always pressing forward, the entire 140-piece line continues in the style that has made Sander a favorite choice among her customers. The collection is stripped to its purest forms and modernized with thoughtful details.

A sleeveless cashmere turtleneck has narrow ribbing trace the circumference of the armhole. Narrow navy sating piping runs along the edge of a navy cotton shirt. And a men’s blazer can opt between a two-button blazer one day, or a three-button blazer on another.

Neutral and versatile, the color palette ranges from black, white and gray, to navy and eggplant.

Creating fashion that is affordable and democratic might not have been on Sander’s agenda years ago. After all, the blond-haired, blue-eyed German told The New York Times Style Magazine that ‘it was dangerous for the brand, to go on another level.’

But now, with the recession threatening foreclosure on fashion namesakes from Christian Lacroix to Yohji Yamamoto, a new approach might be just what the industry needs.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of Decor Innovation.