Eden

Born in New York City and raised in Florence, Italy, Alexander Girard was trained as an architect. He became interested in interior design and, in 1952, he became director of the textile division of the Herman Miller Co. This firm employed many of the leading designers of the day, including Ray and Charles Eames and George Nelson. Working in a richly creative and supportive environment, Girard and his colleagues designed furniture, fabrics, and other objects that became classics of modern design.

In a period when most textiles were drab, dull, and lacking pattern, Girard introduced fabrics to the market that were printed with brilliant primary colors and bold designs. Always incorporating a touch of humor, Girard’s textiles were vibrant and transformed both the residential and commercial spaces in which they were used.

In addition to design, Girard was passionate about collecting folk art. Now at the Museum of International Folk Art in Sante Fe, his collection is a cacophony of pattern, color, fantasy, and humor that undoubtedly influenced the designer’s work. Fascinated by the diversity of art interpretations across cultures, Girard recognized a common spirit in their liveliness and joyfulness. He hoped that, like folk art, his design work would provide common ground for countries and cultures to understand each other.

Characteristic of Girard’s designs, this printed furnishing fabric is playfully titled "Eden." Referencing the biblical Garden of Eden, the designer has created a bold geometric pattern with simplified shapes of flowers, foliage, and fruit. A dove, representing love or goodness, floats above while a comical-looking serpent, representing evil, winds its way through the motifs.