YAEL ET VALERIE’S ELEGANTLY DETAILED AFROCENTRIC FABRICS

Mother and daughter founders of the Haitian design brand Yael et Valerie create upholstery fabrics, decorative pillows and table linens that are inspired by Haitian culture and nature.Striking patterns and color uniquely blend Haitian and African art, history, culture and design. Yael et Valerie’s textile designs each have a different cultural indicator, speaking to the African-rooted heritage that inspires the collection.

YAEL ET VALERIE’S CREATIVE PROCESS

Valerie Louis and her daughter Yael, work hand in hand while creating their prints. Valerie works the creative and the detailed process of designing each one. Then, Valerie’s prints undergo one final test before they are added to her collection.

Valerie entrusts her daughter, Yael, to decide which prints go into production. As a duo, they work together to finalize each design, aiming to design a total of 160 patterns that will eventually complete their textile collection.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION?

Valerie Louis: All my designs come from my life experiences: a childhood memory, an emotion, a revelation. So, I cherish the emotion, envision it, and put it into words. Those words are expressed to our artistic team and together we illustrate. That's why all our collections tell a story. They all come from my love for beauty, interior design, tourism, culture and Haiti.

“I wanted to create Haitian decor with fabrics, wallpapers, and home accessories that reflect our culture so I searched and I couldn’t find anything I could connect with,” says Louis. “That’s when patterns started to pop out. The emptiness needed to be fulfilled.”

And when you’re passionate about something, you become obsessed! I wish to put all my experiences and revelations into a pattern! I have 155 ideas and so far only 5 are out. I always listen to this little voice in me, telling me which one I should focus on and which one should be published. I offer several design options to make my clients happy. By choosing their own color, dimensions, or shape of pillow, it allows them to really connect with the product and be part of its creation.

FAVORITE ITEM IN YOUR COLLECTION?

Valerie Louis: Besides the Makaya Collection featuring the tropical birds of Haiti or Gingerbread showcasing typical Haitian houses, my favorite one would be Past & Connection. In this collection, I wanted to share my challenges as a woman. I thought about all the historical and present women who resonate with me only to finally realize that we’re different but facing the same ordeals.

This collection really comes from the deepest part of me and the message behind it is my deepest truth, which is wherever we are, wherever we stand, it is exactly where we belong. Our past, our ancestors, their accomplishments, and our history put us where we are. May we always value and cherish them in order to accept ourselves and our infinite possible place on Earth.

The mother-daughter duo work in tandem to decide on the prints that will make it into their final collection. Shop fabrics perfect for upholstery and decor projects or opt for printed cotton throw pillows and table linens to adorn your home or for gifting.