Artist Designed Blanket - From Her Vase x Russell Abrahams
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 PRODUCT DESIGN / Homeware & Decoration
Company Name:Something Good Studio
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Zydia Botes
Design Team / Other designer(s):Something Good Studio, Russell Abrahams (Yay Abe)
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Product Description:
This intricately patterned knitted blanket transforms the artist's elaborate artwork for the series into textile form – a masterful fusion of craft and storytelling that honours the quiet beauty of connection, care, and daily rituals. Made from 100% cotton sourced from BCI-accredited farmers, this piece was inspired by a study on how women are often depicted in illustration – fragmented, objectified, or isolated – Russell sets out to reimagine women as whole beings, engaged and present in everyday life. Here, the scene centres on a female figure seated next to a vase marked with a peace sign, an emblem that runs throughout the collection. From above, water cascades down toward her, nourishing the vessel and the plant that blooms from it – a symbol of generosity, growth, and renewal. Russell’s formal approach is influenced by the ornate motifs of blue-and-white china – cherished family heirlooms in many South African households – and the bold, timeless compositions of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera, whose work Russell encountered first-hand while painting a mural in Guadalajara in early 2025.
This intricately patterned knitted blanket transforms the artist's elaborate artwork for the series into textile form – a masterful fusion of craft and storytelling that honours the quiet beauty of connection, care, and daily rituals. Made from 100% cotton sourced from BCI-accredited farmers, this piece was inspired by a study on how women are often depicted in illustration – fragmented, objectified, or isolated – Russell sets out to reimagine women as whole beings, engaged and present in everyday life. Here, the scene centres on a female figure seated next to a vase marked with a peace sign, an emblem that runs throughout the collection. From above, water cascades down toward her, nourishing the vessel and the plant that blooms from it – a symbol of generosity, growth, and renewal. Russell’s formal approach is influenced by the ornate motifs of blue-and-white china – cherished family heirlooms in many South African households – and the bold, timeless compositions of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera, whose work Russell encountered first-hand while painting a mural in Guadalajara in early 2025.
Product Innovation / Specification:
The "From Her Vase" Artist Designed Blanket is a meticulously crafted textile that bridges fine art and functional design. At its core, this piece is a premium jacquard-knit blanket in a generous 140 cm × 180 cm format, knitted from 100 % cotton sourced from BCI-accredited farmers, finished with a textured ribbed border. The blanket is more than a functional object. Bold and textured, it’s intended to be lived with and used – wrapped around shoulders on cool mornings, or offered to a guest. Yet it’s also crafted to be cherished as a work of art, the kind you might frame and hang on a wall.
The "From Her Vase" Artist Designed Blanket is a meticulously crafted textile that bridges fine art and functional design. At its core, this piece is a premium jacquard-knit blanket in a generous 140 cm × 180 cm format, knitted from 100 % cotton sourced from BCI-accredited farmers, finished with a textured ribbed border. The blanket is more than a functional object. Bold and textured, it’s intended to be lived with and used – wrapped around shoulders on cool mornings, or offered to a guest. Yet it’s also crafted to be cherished as a work of art, the kind you might frame and hang on a wall.
Product Sustainability Approach:
The "From Her Vase" Artist Designed Blanket incorporates 100% cotton sourced from Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)-accredited farmers, supporting more responsible cotton farming that improves environmental and social practices in the supply chain. Using natural fibres over synthetics helps reduce reliance on non-renewable materials and aligns with a slow-made, durable product philosophy that prioritises longevity and craftsmanship over fast-fashion disposability. The collaborative design and production approach also reflects a commitment to supporting local makers and creative communities through thoughtful, quality-driven processes that honour craft and reduce wasteful production cycles.
The "From Her Vase" Artist Designed Blanket incorporates 100% cotton sourced from Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)-accredited farmers, supporting more responsible cotton farming that improves environmental and social practices in the supply chain. Using natural fibres over synthetics helps reduce reliance on non-renewable materials and aligns with a slow-made, durable product philosophy that prioritises longevity and craftsmanship over fast-fashion disposability. The collaborative design and production approach also reflects a commitment to supporting local makers and creative communities through thoughtful, quality-driven processes that honour craft and reduce wasteful production cycles.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Product:
The From Her Vase artist-designed blanket exemplifies the positive cultural and economic impact of South African creative collaborations. By partnering with Cape Town-based illustrator Russell Abrahams (Yay Abe), the product amplifies local artistic voices and contributes to the visibility of South African design beyond traditional fashion and decor markets. This collaboration supports the regional creative economy by celebrating locally-rooted narratives and craftsmanship, strengthening cultural identity in design while encouraging slow-made, high-quality production processes that benefit local makers and manufacturers. At a regional level, pieces like this help position South African creative talent within broader African and global design dialogues.
The From Her Vase artist-designed blanket exemplifies the positive cultural and economic impact of South African creative collaborations. By partnering with Cape Town-based illustrator Russell Abrahams (Yay Abe), the product amplifies local artistic voices and contributes to the visibility of South African design beyond traditional fashion and decor markets. This collaboration supports the regional creative economy by celebrating locally-rooted narratives and craftsmanship, strengthening cultural identity in design while encouraging slow-made, high-quality production processes that benefit local makers and manufacturers. At a regional level, pieces like this help position South African creative talent within broader African and global design dialogues.
