14 Feb 17
‘Appaloosa des Steppes’ from the Hermès S/S17 silk scarf collection, was directly inspired by the geometric motifs and vivid colours of Felt’s tribal Shrydak rugs.
The scarf was designed for Hermès by artist, Alice Shirley. A fascination with the mysterious Kyrgyz origins of the iconic ‘spotty horse’ led her to Felt’s London studio, with its unique collection of new and antique Shyrdaks. Here she learnt to interpret the symbolism of these extraordinarily decorative rugs, made in the same way for more than 2500 years by the Kyrgyz nomads - guardians of the Tien Shan Mountains and the wild horses.
The applied geometric shapes are a language; bestowing blessings, describing landscapes or telling stories of the nomadic life. Traditionally, Shyrdaks are used inside yurts for insulation and decoration and Alice’s design drew on these images to create a dazzling backdrop for her prancing Appaloosa stallion.
