With their distinctive cushions and fabrics gracing some of the most beautiful rooms in Australia, including award-winning hotel Halcyon House, the team behind textile label Walter G – high school best friends Lauren Emerson and Genevieve Hewson – are as relaxed as their designs. They’ve come a long way since launching their business at a Sydney trade show in 2012. They now have more than 100 stockists across Australia, and almost as many in the US.
While seemingly simple, their block-printed designs are recognisably Walter G and almost always in blue. “We started with the natural dye indigo, which is a mesmerising process,” says Lauren. Genevieve adds: “The fabric is put into a 10-foot vat in the ground in India. It goes into this green liquid and when it’s pulled out and comes in contact with the air, it turns blue. All our indigo pieces are still done this way.”
Asked why they do it, Lauren says "I love being around pattern all day – I’m pattern obsessed”. Genevieve adds: “Being your own boss and living your passion every day is pretty great.”
Read more in our May issue - on sale now.
