Make your home a testament to places you've been, or hope to visit, with the unexpected, vibrant hues of ethnic prints and patterns — without ever leaving the couch. "Today, ethnic prints are more easily available. You don't have to hop on a plane to Bombay or Morocco to purchase them," says Julieann Covino of Jace Interiors, in Cambridge, Mass. Covino uses ethnic prints in homes as accents, or combined to create movement in a space. But more important than how they look is what they mean.Ethnic designs are inspired by many influences, from cultural heritage and religion to local architecture, lighting, weather patterns and landscape. Indigenous artists skillfully create patterns through embroidery, cotton batiks, hand-beaded silks, ikat techniques, hand-block printing and intricately woven cotton cloth. Every stitch has a story, and every thread a meaning that's passed down the generations.
This rich history, coupled with beauty and craftsmanship, is part of the attraction to and popularity of ethnic prints. Today's top textile designers are introducing ethnic prints and patterns for the modern consumer. While some designers choose to retain traditional techniques and patterns, along with bold colorways, others tone down the palette for a more laid-back, coastal bohemian vibe.
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