now

Educated in textile design and art, Nancy

Claessens now conceptualises inspirational
images to illustrate the fabrics of Belgian
company Bru Textiles. Find out more about
fabric trends, what inspires her, and how she
unwinds from work.

people

N a nc y
C l a essens
Director of
photography at
Bru Textiles

Tell us more about what you do. Im in charge

of the visual productions. That includes
coordination, finding locations and props, and
being creative when things go wrong during
photo shoots.
How do you pick locations for photo shoots?
Im fond of raw, concrete interiors, and those
that are in touch with nature, and with the
outside. For outdoor fabric collections, I usually
go to Ibiza or Spain because they have good
weather even in winter, there is good light,
and it doesnt rain frequently.
How do you filter the inspiration you get from
visiting large design exhibitions? It depends
on what youre looking for and what youre
interested in. I go with a very open mind. I also
put a personal touch on everything I do, drawing
inspiration not only from the interiors world, but
also from the people and architecture around
me. Im interested in art and photography, too.
Its really a combination of environments,
how we are living, and how we should live
in the future.

Most homeowners have a hard time choosing

fabrics based on tiny swatches. Do you have
any tips on how they can visualise better?
I understand because I find it difficult, too.
Ive learnt to ask to see the fabric on a roll
before proceeding, to lessen the chance of
surprises when the materials arrive. But, for
homeowners, I think its best to see the fabric
swatch in the sample book (which are usually
in larger pieces).
What are the interiors of your home like? As I
deal with colour and design all the time, I need
a calming atmosphere to come home to, and
I dont like interiors where everything is full of
props. So my home is quite light, there are a
lot of white walls, but the kitchen palette is very
dark. And I accent the space with velour, prints,
cushions and carpets.
What are some upcoming fabric trends?
Fabrics are becoming more technical. Examples
can be seen in the Velvet Opulence collection
from Bru Textiles, where they are a combination
of soft velvets with metallic finishing, making it
sophisticated but also industrial. Ive also seen
fabric colours that are made up of a subtle blend
of many colours which fade into each other.

B r u T e x ti l es is dist r ib u ted
b y Ac a ci a Fa b r ics .

I nstea d o f s a fe neut ra l s su c h as b e i g e an d w h i te, t r y l i g ht

gre en o r p i n k , wh i ch are i nte re st i n g ye t su b t l e co l o u r s.

r i g ht

One of the interior

trends that Nancy
forsees is the use
of nostalgic
elements within
a contemporary
setting, in a
romantic yet
modern approach.
f a r r i g ht

Sheer fabrics,
natural light
and the merging
of indoor and
outdoor spaces are
elements she uses
to create spaces
where people
can unwind.

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text mavis ang photography Wong Wei Liang art direction Lim Yi Ling