Meet Albane Leclerc, the artist behind the colourful retro rugs from Hessia Studio!
Hessia Studio is a 1-person team, composed of Albane, who has been designing and making her own rugs since the pandemic. Albane first worked in retail when she moved from Normandy to London in order to meet people and become bilingual, but the desire to create has always been present. That underlying desire was unfortunately met with the frustration of not being able to afford equipment and dedicate time to creating.
If there is one thing that the first lockdown has given some of us, it is time to reflect, to dream and to create. For Albane, it was an opportunity to draw again, to paint and essentially get out of her comfort zone - “in my corner, without any judgment”. Albane found a tufting machine, taught herself from a couple of video tutorials, studied the crafts for days on the internet and tadaaa!
Having studied marketing in France, Albane is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to graphic design and online content strategy. No wonder Albane managed to take her tufting experiment to higher spheres over the past couple of years! Hessia Studio - Albane’s alias - handles the manufacturing process from start to finish: from design to tufting, including sourcing materials!
If you have a look at the rugs from Hessa Studio, you won’t help but notice a clear celebration of the 1960s and 1970s’ designs. Those bright oranges, faded maroons and mustard tones take you right to those vintage interiors. According to Albane, the colour palette from the sixties is like her: “joyful, comforting and sometimes extravagant!” We believe her!
Growing up in a family of painters, musicians, plasticians and antique hunters, Albane has become passionate about antiques and vintage herself! Although not a fan of being dragged from one flea market to another when she was a kid, it contributed to refining her taste for retro objects!
The connoisseurs might even find some homage to rockers and iconic musicians from those years: on Hessia Studio’s website, each rug is named after a famous artist from the sixties and seventies. Bobby, Nancy, Ray, Debby, Betty, Barry… Does it ring a bell?
Music is a key element in Hessia Studio and part of the DNA of the brand - “Music takes you through so many emotions, colours and imaginary worlds.” Albane admits having a soft spot for rock but sticking to only one genre is not really her cup of tea. Sticking to one craft either… So Albane shares mixes for Hessia Studio on Spotify! Have a listen, these are perfect playlists to be taken 50 years ago and frolic on your newly acquired rug.
Albane’s ambition is to give a soul to Hessia Studio, via sharing inspirations and playlists with her community and collaborating with other artists. At the crossroads of art and interior design, Hessia Studio offers made-to-order rugs and unique tapestries, following a sustainable creative process.
Her latest creation is a desert-themed tapestry meant to serve as a backdrop for a shooting. “I'm really happy to have worked on this project. Collaborating with other artists is so rewarding. It gets you out of your routine. It also makes you doubt yourself. It's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but it makes you feel a bit more alive in your art!”
What’s next for Hessia Studio? Building the community, sharing a love for vintage finds, rock music and 60s home decor! Albane is also on the lookout for new collaborations with artists to create unique pieces and painting-like tapestries.
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