Design Alchemy Collective

27/08/2026

Different rooms. Different moods. Same story behind every single one.

Every cushion in this video was made from underprint fabric — cloth that sat beneath the block printing in Jaipur, catching layers of dye it was never meant to hold. No two pieces came out the same. No two ever will.

Find yours at https://designalchemycollective.com/collections/cushions

26/08/2026

Someone asked us recently how they can tell if "one of a kind" is real or just a marketing phrase. It is a fair question.

The honest answer: check the edition number on the product page. If it says one-of-a-kind, that is exactly how many exist. 1. Full stop.

A handful of this month's pieces are one-of-a-kind, or one pair only. No discount, no countdown timer - just an honest note that once they are gone, they are gone.

https://designalchemycollective.com/search?q=one-of-a-kind

21/08/2026

When an artisan presses a hand-carved block onto cotton, two things happen at once.

The dye lands on the top fabric - crisp, deliberate, repeated across the length of the cloth. That becomes the kaftan.

But excess dye falls through to the fabric beneath. Layer upon layer, session after session, pattern on top of pattern. That becomes the underprint cushion cover.

One block. One moment of printing. Two completely different pieces.

This is why we don't waste anything.

https://designalchemycollective.com/collections/kaftans

19/08/2026

We get asked this a lot, so here is the honest answer.

A DAC kaftan starts with hand block-printing - an artisan pressing a hand-carved wood block onto pure cotton, lining it up by eye, lifting it, moving along, pressing again. Across an entire length of cloth, in the Indian heat, with azo-free dyes that have to land right first time. The fabric dries outdoors - a step that cannot be rushed , then goes to our stitching artisans who stitch each piece to a finish built to last.

Two separate trades, both paid fairly, working across several days for one piece. Compare that to a printed roller running in seconds, which is how most "block print style" pieces on the market are actually made.

The price reflects the process, not a markup. We would rather tell you that plainly than let you assume.

https://designalchemycollective.com/collections/kaftans

13/08/2026

Most people layer texture wrong. Here is the fix — and it takes about 60 seconds to learn.

Rule 1: Don't match. Contrast.
Rule 2: Pair smooth against rough — velvet next to linen or a woven weave.
Rule 3: Add the printed piece last. Always last.

That's it. That contrast is what makes a room feel designed rather than just decorated. We've been doing this for clients for 30 years and it still works every time.

Swipe through to see it in action — using one of our own cushions as the example, not the pitch.

https://designalchemycollective.com/collections/cushions

07/08/2026

The colour isn't finished until the sun says so.

Every length of fabric spends time drying outdoors in Jaipur before it becomes anything else — a step you can't rush, no matter how badly you want to see the finished piece.

This is one of the layers that goes into every quilt and cushion you see this month.

https://designalchemycollective.com/collections/bedlinen-2

05/08/2026

Anna flew to the other side of the world and ended up sitting in the dirt. She would do it again tomorrow.

This is the stitching village outside Jaipur -fabric on the ground, kids running around in the background, and a woman patiently showing Anna the edge stitch that finishes every single DAC piece. Anna had never seen it done that way before. She's been talking about it ever since.

The quilt they're working on in these photos is the Dreamweaver in underprint fabric - meaning layer upon layer of colour of ink fell through the cloth during printing, completely unplanned, building up across a month into something that looks like this. Then stitched in the village in the sun.

There is one of it. Not one colourway. One quilt. When it goes, that's genuinely it.

Swipe through - it's worth it.

https://designalchemycollective.com/products/half-kantha-doha-quilt-dream-weaver-damson?

03/08/2026

If India has always been that place you have dreamt of.. the colours, the design, the vibrancy … here is your chance.
Guided with the support of a local team in the ground, explore the architecture, interiors, food and culture of Rajasthan.
Very limited space and we would love you to join. Xx

I'm heading back to a land so close to my heart.....
Join Design Alchemy Collective next February 2027 for An Indian Design Journey – an immersive experience created for interior designers, architects, artists, makers and passionate travellers who want to discover the craftsmanship, colour and creativity that has inspired designers for centuries.
From artisan workshops and hidden textile studios to remarkable architecture, bustling markets and unforgettable cultural experiences, this is far more than a holiday. It's an opportunity to see India through the eyes of designers.

Expect:
• Incredible textiles and handcrafts
• Private artisan experiences
• Architecture and interiors
• Local food and culture
• Inspiration you'll bring home for years to come
• Wonderful company with like-minded creative travellers

✨ Places are strictly limited and this tour has a small group to ensure a truly personal experience.

18 days – 14 Feb to 3 Mar 2027
Small Group: Min 8 – Max 12

If India has been on your bucket list, this is your invitation to join us.
Secure your place now before the remaining spaces disappear.

https://lnkd.in/e49dSi4C

Contact me if you have any questions.

30/07/2026