After experiencing the sad passing of their grandfathers at the same time, Genevieve Fennel and Lauren Bennett decided to leave the jobs they hated and start following their passion.
Both adoring textiles and with a stint in India under their belts, the best friends decided to launch textile business Walter G, a nod to their late grandfathers, Walter and George.
Fusing together the traditional art of hand block printing and natural dying with contemporary designs, Walter G offers a range of fabrics, cushions, table linen, lighting, aprons and tea towels that are timeless and relaxed. “Walter G’s range of artisanal textiles channel the relaxed vibe of coastal living, through pattern, fresh colour, texture and nostalgia. Timeless in both design and palette, they are designed to be mixed and matched to elevate an interior with both style and comfort.”
Using a majority of natural fabrics like linens and hand-woven cottons, all their products are 100% hand block printed, using either natural or environmentally friendly dyes and pigments; something the girls are very passionate about. “This is the kind of stuff that we love to put in our own homes – rustic, cosy, natural and pattern packed. There is just something about things that are made by hand, once you get accustomed to them, you can never go back to factory made.”
Their latest range Made in Japan, which is being launched during today’s Life Instyle, takes the rustic, cosy and natural feel the girls love so much and injects into it a Japanese-inspired edge. “We took a lot of inspiration from traditional Japanese kimono designs that we found in old Japanese woodblock paintings as well as old pieces of kimono fabrics that we have collected over the years. We have used a really rustic, neutral palette with a few hints of fresh citrus for summer. We are a little obsessed with citrus and grey/taupe at the moment. And of course our staple, indigo — the king of all colours. We have specifically made our table linen range quite indigo-heavy as they just wash out so beautifully, like an old pair of jeans!”
Photography by Nikki To