Behind the Seams of the LAY LO ReMade Collection with Warren Aldrich of Studio W.A.L.D.
After a year of disarray, people all over the world have made 2021 about piecing things back together. Whether it’s their home, friends or even their wardrobe, people are slowly sewing their lives back into place, one patch at a time.
To tell this story, LAY LO created the ReMade Collection in partnership with textile design studio W.A.L.D to piece together 21 limited edition cover designs using hundreds of pieces of scrap material sourced from their past collections.
We sat down with Warren and his adorable Cockapoo Twiggy to tour his home studio and get a glimpse behind the collab.
What's your adoption story?
I adopted my 7 year old Cockapoo Twiggy from the West LA Animal Shelter. For 3 whole months, I'd go every week until I felt a connection. She was 1 at the time and was the only dog not barking. Something about her just seemed kind. My intuition was right!
How would you describe your dog's personality?
Twiggy is a bit of a ham sometimes. I named her after Twiggy, the model. Coincidentally, she loves attention and I’m not ashamed to say she 100% deserves it. I adopted her 8 years ago and she continues to be the most loving thing I’ve ever known.
Describe your home studio and style?
I live in an industrial loft in DTLA. My space doubles up as my work space and my home. While the space is a work/live studio, I’ve compartmentalized it to allow for some separation. With my work very much focused on preserving craft around the world, you’ll find textiles hanging everywhere. They are things I get to appreciate and be inspired by, on a daily basis. They also bring a lot of color and warmth to the space.
What is your approach to interior design? How do your passions translate to your home’s interior?
My interior design approach is about accumulation over time. I'm a big collector. Objects get introduced to the space and then influence where I place the next thing. Eventually everything references one another and it creates a uniquely personal space. This process mirrors my work. It’s very reactionary and not incredibly thought out. For this reason, it doesn’t lean into one particular style nor would you find it on the pages of Dwell. It’s completely mine and that’s what I love about it.
I’m formerly trained as a painter and have always been inspired and excited by other artist’s studios. I like it, because a work space only needs to make sense to the one working in it. It could look like total chaos to someone else, but for the artist, everything is exactly where it's supposed to be. When an artist's space feels personal, it's easier to get into a flow state when you're creating. A unique space allows for unique work.
What inspired you to start W.A.L.D?
I’ve always been fascinated by the origin of textiles and the alchemy and science behind natural dyes. I think of weaving as the original human invention. It appeared in every part of the world on its own, making it almost like an innately human attribute. While weaving is fundamentally the same process everywhere, it's amazing how different regions have such unique styles. I started W.A.L.D because I was deeply committed to preserving this craft. I started making weavings in the context of textile/fiber art. Overtime, I became more interested in weaving as a utilitarian material so transitioning into clothing felt more purposeful. To source my materials, I travel around the world to visit other weaving communities. This process needs to be a collaboration. Working together, instead of taking from their culture. It's very important to me that these craftspeople feel respected and compensated fairly.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I tend to gravitate toward South American textiles because of their strong sense of color. Particularly Andean textiles like Peru and Bolivia. I also often collaborate with weavers from India, a place that has become a global hot bed for getting stuff made. Their weaving communities are incredibly accepting of outside creatives, which has been a joy to work with.
Describe your creative process when designing the LAY LO x W.A.L.D patchwork line?
It’s sort of mindless at first. LAY LO sends me their fabric scraps and I spread them out on the table, then I just start sewing things together. After I’ve made some progress, my editing eye comes in. I’ve been creating for much of my life, so I trust my intuition when it comes to color and composition. Then I keep reeling it in and refining until it feels right. The way I work is more about chiseling away at something, as opposed to building from ground up.
What are your intentions for 2021 in life and business?
The collab with LAY LO has helped me learn to work well with a team. I lucked out and grew a lot in the process. They’ve been so easy to work with and there’s a mutual respect between us. Their level of trust made me excited to collaborate with other artists and brands I admire. I want to expand W.A.L.D and build a team to grow the business. That sounds fun to me. It would be awesome to see someone out on the street wearing my clothes
- Tags: collection launch home tours