As a textile artist and designer Lu Hopkins has always been fascinated by technique and process, exploring where the methods of one discipline effect change when applied to a different medium. Intuitively inspired by organic forms, industrial materials and the rhythms of structure and colors her work rethinks textile and image production techniques, showcasing the happy accidents and innovative potential that lie at the crossroads of tradition and technology. A willingness to experiment and an interest in cross-discipline collaboration have contributed to a wide-ranging career in fashion, home and commercial design.
Setting out to study art at Rhode Island School of Design Lu was quickly captivate by the world of textile design. The opportunity to use drawing, paintings and sculpture to invent both woven and print concepts elicited a transformative experience that shaped the future of her creative aesthetic. Having graduated from the RISD in 1990 with a BFA in Textiles, Lu began work at the Fabric Workshop in Philadelphia mastering hand-printed silk-screening while collaborating on artists projects and expanding the apprentice program.
Her interest in process and technologies soon led her to New York City, where the textile industry was in the midst of a CAD revolution. As a Jacquard designer for Designtex and then Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills Lu used this new tool to create intricate wovens for residential and contract fabrics. The appeal of textiles was further engaged by exposure to interior furnishings showcased at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, High Point Furniture Market and later at Heimtex, Decosit, Proposte, and 100% Design-London. Her introduction to CAD was an important milestone in her growth as a designer, as she came to better understand that the blending of art and technology was what spurred her creativity.
Shortly thereafter Lu jumped at the chance to work for a UK-based ceramic company, with production facilities in Columbia, SA. In order to guide and accelerate the evolution of the pottery business she embarked on a course of Post Graduate Studies at Staffordshire University in Stoke-On-Trent, England. Working in this new medium, Lu explored finishes and colors with a fresh eye, adding a new set of skills and references to her abilities as an artist.
The serendipitous discovery of a cache of 1960’s vintage vinyl fabrics came about right when Lu was ready for another jolt of inspiration. She launched her own design studio in 2001 with The Lounge Set, a limited edition line of handbags created from the vintage vinyl. Exhibiting the work at the New York International Gift Fair and Designers & Agents in NYC and LA lead to prominent media coverage in Lucky Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, NY Magazine and Teen Vogue. The collection was picked up by Henry Bendel and Fred Segal as well as a prominent Japanese department store.
As the supply of quality vintage vinyl became scarce and increasingly high-priced, Lu looked into producing her own original designs. Her research led her to Custom Laminations, Inc., a third-generation family business that specializes in innovative surfacing and material treatments. Lu began to investigate new creative possibilities, combining her textile and print-making abilities with CLI’s newly acquired large format digital printing machinery.
Her artistic vision and experimentation with CAD techniques allowed the company to go after new business opportunities in the emerging world of digitally printed wallcovering. The clientele included established companies that varied from ArcCom, Maharam, Wolf Gordon, Rigo / Fidelity to Schumacher and high-end Interior Designers. During this time Lu exhibited her distinctive wallcoverings at the Bernstein studio in the Hotel Chelsea during New York Design week and collaborated with the Meatpacking design festival to create a signature neighborhood installation of three-dimensional graphics and an avant-guard gallery space.
Lu’s creative innovation was also applied to CLI’s placemat category with the introduction of gravure printing to the longstanding laminated product category. This experience furthered her field of client work by designing for Bed, Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel. Her knowledge of home and interior design continued to expand while absorbing the context of products at Neo-Con, Hospitality Design – Las Vegas, HD-Miami, the International Home & Housewares tradeshows and Surtex.
In 2014 Lu was hired by Phillip Jeffries, for her expertise in digital creative processes and production methodologies. Tasked with building the new digital wallcovering category, she worked closely with executive, senior design, marketing and sales leaders to execute innovative program of large-scale mural-like patterns. In the first year the design “Fade” was awarded the 2015 BOY Award (INTERIOR DESIGN – Best of Year) for the Wallcovering : Fabric category and in the second year the design “Beyond” was awarded the 2016 BOY Award (INTERIOR DESIGN – Best of Year) for the Wallcovering : Fabric category.
After her dramatic success at Phillip Jeffries Lu enthusiastically decided to yet again establish her own business. Lu Hopkins Studio is concentrated in the abstraction of handcrafted artwork through digital processes for the construction of dynamic surface patterns for Wallcovering, Upholstery, Carpet, Home and Fashion Products. Her work is shaped by eclectic imagery layered with dimensional textures and a fluid use of color. Lu continues to experiment with textile concepts and materials that bring into focus the crossroads of tradition and technology.