A world of geometric painting woven from thread. Discover the joy of creation through WALLACE SEWELL's tippets.

There are plenty of stoles and scarves inspired by paintings and landscapes, but the textiles of WALLACE SEWELL, which express these motifs through intricate layers of geometric patterns, radiate a one-of-a-kind charm that stimulates the sensibilities of everyone who holds them. We asked the designers about the appeal of WALLACE SEWELL's textiles, each one carefully crafted by trading a paintbrush for thread.

Beautiful patterns that change expression depending on how they're wrapped

Crafted by the hands of two women who studied art

WALLACE SEWELL's textiles were born from Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell, two women who met at the Royal College of Art in London, one of the world's leading art universities.

Harriet (left) and Emma (right), who studied art at London's prestigious art university

"WALLACE SEWELL's story goes back to our university days. Harriet and I (Emma) were both majoring in woven textile design, and that's where we met. We learned everything related to textile design at university, and after graduating, we founded the textile design studio WALLACE SEWELL."

Before becoming a design studio, Harriet was creating fabrics for interiors, developing original compositions using weaving techniques, while Emma was drawn to woven fabric compositions using shrinking or twisted threads, making fabrics for fashion.

Timeless art patterns that resonate with each individual's personality

Their first solo exhibition drew attention from buyers, including Barneys New York. What they presented there were stoles with beautiful, modern patterns combining intricate geometric designs—a hallmark that still defines WALLACE SEWELL today. The inspiration for these designs, surprisingly, comes from paintings. Why express paintings, with their elegant lines, through geometric patterns?

"In weaving, there is 'jacquard weave,' which can render painting-like patterns, and 'dobby weave,' which excels at geometric patterns. We deliberately choose dobby weave. While dobby can't produce figurative images or complex patterns, we love the way it expresses geometry in its own distinctive style. By drawing on the colors, compositions, and textures used in paintings as design sources, we create textiles that are uniquely ours."

Their unique design approach involves taking inspiration from paintings and landscapes they encounter and translating them into geometric patterns. They start by considering color and balance, analyzing the colors within a painting while manually winding thread around a mounting board to develop the design. This meticulous, careful process is an essential step in creating what makes WALLACE SEWELL distinctly itself.

"Paintings contain dynamic color combinations you don't normally see, and they have the power to evoke emotions like tension or calm. We design so that even those emotions can be translated into our work. What matters is not chasing trends, but staying curious about everything and discovering unexpected color combinations. We aim for timeless designs that resonate with each individual's personality and can offer a sense of surprise to the people who wear them."

Patterns so intricate you feel drawn into a world of geometry

Just as everyone experiences different emotions when looking at a painting, one of the charms of WALLACE SEWELL's textiles is that the impression they give varies from person to person. To capture the countless layers of inspiration drawn from paintings, even the lining is treated as a canvas, with various patterns intricately composed within a single piece. We hope you'll enjoy changing how you wrap it, as if engaging in dialogue with each individual pattern.

Merino Lambswool Muffler DORVIGNY (CLARET)

A tippet you'll want to wear all day

Among the WALLACE SEWELL items ZUTTO carries, one we especially recommend is the Wool Cashmere Tippet (Muffler) DELPHINE. When people hear "tippet," many may picture something made of fur, but WALLACE SEWELL's tippet is more like a short muffler made of wool and cashmere. When you hold it, the softness of the cashmere feels wonderful, and the texture is comfortable even for those who find wool scratchy.

The Wool Cashmere Tippet (Muffler) DELPHINE was designed based on research done at the Musée d'Orsay. Each design has its own painting that served as inspiration, and part of the fun of WALLACE SEWELL is choosing a piece while researching what painting inspired it.

"We designed the tippet with the concept that, like a small-sized scarf, it could be worn all day long. Because of its compact size, we focused on bold color combinations so that it would stand out as an accent even when tied simply, and we designed it so that it takes on various expressions depending on how it's wrapped."

It's easy to assume that a large muffler is more practical and fashionable, but a compact size actually makes it easier to move your neck and shoulders, so you won't notice it even if you wear it all day long. The material is also comfortable to wear without feeling too hot or too cold, making it a great choice not only for autumn and winter but also for spring, when the chill starts to ease. Try having fun mixing colors with your brighter spring outfits.

Unisex arrangements for enjoying the tippet

WALLACE SEWELL textiles have a different look on the front and back, so you can enjoy changing the mood depending on how you wrap them. With a tippet, you can style yourself simply by draping it around your neck, so it's a great option for men or anyone who isn't particular about how they wrap it. To help you enjoy the tippet even more, we tried out a variety of different arrangements.

First, the LEAF, based on Vincent van Gogh's "The Church at Auvers," is simply draped around the neck without tying a knot. The combination of fresh green, reminiscent of young leaves, and deep indigo blue, reminiscent of the sky, creates a pleasant coloring. The fresh green brings out the brightness, giving it a refreshing impression.

The DENIM is based on Paul Gauguin's "The White Horse," which depicts a white horse standing in cold, clear water. Tie it loosely so it forms volume around the neck, wrapping the whole neck area in warmth for a more glamorous impression. The main blue color combined with the pink and moss-green stripe pattern is beautiful, and gives a playful touch as well.

Tying a snug knot at the neck also allows for a more gentlemanly look, like a scarf tie. The RUBY, inspired by Vincent van Gogh's "Portrait of Dr. Gachet," has a design that conveys the passion said to be hidden within the sadness Gogh poured into the painting. This bold use of color is also easy to style thanks to the compact tippet size, and works well as an accent for autumn and winter outfits built around dark colors.

Finally, we introduce a menswear-inspired styling paired with a jacket. The TRYOL, created from Gustave Courbet's "The Stormy Sea," features a design where light in royal blue and lemon yellow breaks through dark tones that express the dark, rough winter sea. It's easy to pair with calm, subdued outfits, making it a piece we'd recommend for formal occasions and for men as well.

Continuing to enjoy anything, no matter what it is

No matter how carefully you use something, it can still get dirty or develop holes over time. WALLACE SEWELL is a brand that reminds us of the joy of creating something new even in such moments. For example, if a muffler gets a hole, you can darn it and add your own personal color, turning it into a special, one-of-a-kind muffler that you'll grow even more attached to. In this way, WALLACE SEWELL shows us the fun of discovering new appeal even in things we might otherwise throw away. Fabric scraps are one such example.

"I didn't want to throw away the selvage (both edges) and scraps of fabric that get cut off during production, so I was always thinking about how to use them, and ended up keeping every bit for years. Once I had accumulated a certain amount, I started offering them as trim, wrapping ribbon, materials for hand-weaving kits, and Christmas wreaths, and they became more and more popular. Now, everything I had kept is completely gone."

Handmade ideas using WALLACE SEWELL fabric scraps that can become something special all your own.

WALLACE SEWELL teaches us that any material can continue to be enjoyed, depending on how you arrange it. If you use your creativity, an item can keep shining beside you as a favorite for a long time. Once you learn about their charm this way, you realize that even a single tippet is packed with surprises and inspiration. Search for a design that resonates with your own personality, and enjoy it in your own way.

▼See the full lineup of WALLACE SEWELL items here