Bookshelf: Textile designer Seetal Solanki revelas her five most inspiring books

Date
3 September 2013

Seetal has come a long way since being an exceptional Central Saint Martins grad. She now runs her very own studio which does everything from styling to screenprinting workshops, from menswear design to creative direction. What they really specialise in however is textile design – and what textile designs! Seetal has a serious talent when it comes to designing some of the most beautiful, well-informed repeat pattern you may ever have come across. No wonder she’s got the entire fashion world queueing up to collaborate with her. Her bookshelf is, unsurprisingly, injected with fashion, style and a big ol’ dose of craft. Enjoy!

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Larry Towell: The World from My Front Porch

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Larry Towell: The World from My Front Porch

Larry Towell: The World from My Front Porch

This book in its pure simplicity is about the "everyday. Everything that has happened outside and inside of Towell’s front porch. Objects he’s found, kittens being born, fishing, swimming and life being created. There is such beauty in life and living.

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Kodansha: Tools. Real Stuff for Future Classics. Users Guide Book/Includes 282 Items

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Kodansha: Tools. Real Stuff for Future Classics. Users Guide Book/Includes 282 Items

Kodansha: Tools. Real Stuff for Future Classics. Users Guide Book/Includes 282 Items

This book to me captures this quote from Charles Eames perfectly: “The uncommon beauty in common things…” This book captures the love I have for design, craft and products. The Japanese really know how to get it right when it comes to craft. From the layout, paper, the graphic design and product selection is so perfect you just want to own everything that appears in this wonderful gem of a book.

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Weltkulturen Museum – Trading Style

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Weltkulturen Museum – Trading Style

Weltkulturen Museum – Trading Style

Travel and people are a big part of my hobbies and inspirations. I love the transition between indigenous tribes/people and style. Whatever tribe it may be there is something to be said for how they create their own identity through dress and for it all having a purpose. Saying this, the influence these tribes have had within modern society is something that can’t be missed. As they say, they don’t make them like they used to.

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Rin Tanaka: No.1 Heller’s Cafe. Featuring Americana Clothing from Larry’s Collection

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Rin Tanaka: No.1 Heller’s Cafe. Featuring Americana Clothing from Larry’s Collection

Rin Tanaka: No.1 Heller’s Cafe. Featuring Americana Clothing from Larry’s Collection

This was a rare find and a true gem for my collection of books. Rin Tanaka is a genius, especially when it comes to the past and menswear. I am on a mission to get the rest of the Freedamn books to complete my collection. Menswear is a huge passion of mine and Tanaka captures it in the best way possible. He refers to the past and tradition, and what a past it has been.

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Patti Smith: Just Kids

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Patti Smith: Just Kids

Patti Smith: Just Kids

Music is a big part of my inspiration and really couldn’t live without it. Patti Smith is someone I have always loved and reading her bio just made me love her even more. Her journey, her life, her lack of self belief and so much more. One of my most favourite books I’ve read in a very long time.

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Seetal Solanki’s Bookshelf

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Seetal Solanki’s Bookshelf

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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