Toyine Sellers
High-end contemporary textiles
Toyine Sellers fell in love with handwoven textiles. In her workshop in Isère, France, she weaves upholstery fabrics and carpets on ancient looms, using natural and fancy fibers, guided by a commitment to quality and inspired by landscapes from around the world.
What was your journey like leading up to opening your workshop?
My interest in weaving began while I was working as an interior architect with Peter Marino, who handed me a photo of a Louis Vuitton trunk and said, “Turn this trunk into fabric!”. I had no idea where to start… But I succeeded! Peter Marino played a crucial role in unintentionally guiding me towards this new chapter in my life, and he was a true inspiration. It was through him that I discovered the fantastic world of weaving artists (among other crafts), incredibly passionate, talented, and dedicated. I think of one weaver in particular, an old man who felt like a grandfather to me, who truly inspired me. It was for him and his workshop that I returned to Europe. As my hands delved into the materials, my eyes into the colors, my brain absorbed the process, my whole being understood, made the necessary connections… I loved it! At first, I didn’t handle the looms, but gradually, I tried my hand at it. Without formal training, I did almost everything wrong, compared to the traditional and daily gestures of professional weavers. But these “mistakes” eventually became part of my style and the personality of my creations. I love imperfection, it makes things real and adds a spontaneous character to the pieces. I often tell the weavers I work with to “unlearn” what they’ve been taught and to make room for mistakes… But only to a certain extent! I am also deeply committed to the quality and beauty of my work.
Initially, I wanted to work with different weaving houses, focusing solely on design and sales, without having to manage my own production. However, I quickly realized that if I wanted to control the quality and the project from conception to delivery, I had to do it myself. So, I set out to find looms and stumbled upon an old workshop about to close down. I bought the looms, hired the weavers, and took the plunge!
You exclusively produce in France. How did you find your workshop and what were you specifically looking for?
All our fabrics have always been woven in France since the beginning, in 2010. Then in 2011, realizing that I needed to control my production, I began searching for a model of loom that hadn’t been produced since the 1950s. This search led me to the Lyon region where I found three of these looms for sale on a second-hand website. They are quite rare today. Due to their size and weight, it wasn’t feasible to move them at the time. I had to wait for my business to develop to have the necessary funds, as when I found them, my budget had already been spent on yarns and samples, without knowing what lay ahead!
What is your relationship with the materials, the fibers you work with?
I try to work with natural fibers as much as possible. But having worked on the design of Chanel boutiques under Peter Marino’s direction for five years, just before starting my weaving career, I also know fancy yarns and lurex very well. They are part of my vocabulary. All the yarns I use come from European sources, and I work with local dyers and spinners to obtain specific yarns, thus supporting European craftsmanship.
You had a specific idea of the type of looms you wanted for Toyine Sellers.
Can you explain why?
I wanted specific looms, which I discovered and experimented with in a workshop I had worked with in Brussels. Their use began in the 1950s. They allow for weaving nearly any material and would have been used to weave some of Pierre Cardin‘s most extravagant textiles… On these looms, I can combine cotton, silk, wool, linen, chenille, fancy threads, metal, and leather to create unique and enchanting combinations.
You’ve been traveling since childhood. Does inspiration come from wide-open spaces, whether natural or urban?
I draw inspiration from memories, nature, art, ceramics, and food. I always look around and observe the world around me when I’m at home, in the workshop, and when I travel. My fabrics reflect these impressions; landscapes and light are evident in my colors and textures. I’m inspired by artists who also draw inspiration from nature, such as Peter Doig, Gerhard Richter and Per Kirkeby, among others.
How do these inspirations translate into Toyine Sellers’ creations?
I start by thinking about the colors or textures of yarns I have in my library that can be assembled to achieve the effect I have in mind. I play with the threads, wrapping them around my hand, to get an idea of how they will blend. From there, I create a “recipe,” thinking about repetition and pattern. The last step (which can also be a beginning!) is to test everything on the loom. Sometimes, I’m lucky and it pleases me right away, other times (most of the time), it’s not at all what I imagined, but that’s not always a bad thing because it can open up new possibilities.
How do you support professional clients in their projects and choices?
Our textiles are exclusively available through our specialized sales team, who work directly with clients to tailor solutions to their textile needs. We take pride in anticipating our clients’ needs and providing them with old-fashioned service.
You also work with a textile design studio. How do you handle fully customized requests?
Due to the nature of our textiles, we primarily work on high-end residential interior decoration projects. However, we also develop custom weavings for luxury boutiques and special projects in the hospitality industry. We have recently started accepting orders for private aviation and yachting. We deal extensively with personalized requests. Most often, clients choose a texture they like or a color palette from my samples. They then tell me what modifications or adjustments they’d like. However, the intent must still align with my sensibility in terms of colors and design, otherwise, it’s quite a challenge for me. I also try to guide them. The most fabulous, yet risky, situation is when a client says, “It’s up to you, I trust you!” It’s always very gratifying when they are pleased with the first sample, but of course, we make adjustments if needed.
How did you meet Collection Latil and why did you join the Collection?
I received an email from Collection Latil by chance, a few months before Anne-Sophie Latil contacted me. I was impressed by the quality of work from the other workshops presented, and when Collection Latil contacted me, I was delighted because I thought it would be a great opportunity for a meeting and exchange of ideas!
Discover more about Toyine Sellers in the Collection space.
Photos ©François Hallard, ©Francis Amiand, ©Lotfi Dakhli, ©Sylvain Faisan, ©Studio Erick Saillet