If you ask Brendan Kramer and Nisha Mirani which product most accurately reflects their textile studio Sunday Monday, they might just say Kanso, the designers’ recent and first full pillow collection. Beyond the studio’s design values, Kanso also represents Kramer’s Japanese heritage and Mirani’s Indian heritage. The collection is named after one of the seven principles of Japanese zen philosophy, “kanso,” which refers to the elimination of clutter in order to promote well-being. While designed in New York City, the pillows are block-printed by hand in Rajasthan, India, an homage to Mirani’s cultural background.
The block designs are first carved into local teakwood at the same time that 100% European linen is washed, dyed, and prepared for the hand-block printing. In an open air workshop located on a family farm, fifth generation artisans carefully imprint the designs, a production that requires a very particular skillset because of the size of the block prints. Even changes in weather, specifically rain and high humidity, can delay the process. Once dried under the Rajasthani sun, the textiles are wash, dried, and finished.
In addition to their cultural heritages, Kramer and Mirani were inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s iconic Akari lamps for their elegant silhouettes and simple materials. The architectural lines found in the pillow collection are a reflection of the bamboo framing of Noguchi’s lamps. Negative space highlights the rich colors of the dyed linen while the various dualities seen – light and dark, sun and moon, circles and squares – represent Sunday Monday’s textile collection.
Brendan Kramer and Nisha Mirani of Sunday Monday
For more information or to purchase pillows from the Kanso collection, visit shopsundaymonday.com.
Photography by Aaron Bengochea.
