Timeless Fabrics by The House of Lyria

Based in the Tuscan city of Prato, The House of Lyria perfectly represents the incredible textile heritage of the region. Founded in 2002 by Riccardo Bruni, the brand produces original, timeless fabrics and entered the world of interiors in 2021, launching its first cushions collection. Riccardo’s creative vision draws inspiration from experiences and stories recalled from travels around the world and its memories. His creative spirit is rooted in quality, experimentation and traditional craftsmanship, to give life to artistic pieces with an unmistakable nostalgic allure.

The company is named after a rare spiraling conch shell and symbolize the freedom of the ocean. The same forward-looking spirit brought the brand to experiment with natural fibers and unconventional looming techniques to create interesting textures with a beautiful rustic look. Meet the founder of The House of Lyria and discover Cartagine, the new limited-edition collection.

Lyria was established in Prato, the Tuscan hub of the Italian textile industry, conceived as a space to express creativity and craftsmanship. What connection do you have with your territory and how is that reflected in The House of Lyria’s products?

Tuscany is a region with a very ancient and fascinating history.When we consider what has been referred to as the “new Renaissance” in textiles, I found a strong motivation in research and tradition: not only do I draw inspiration from paintings, but also from everything that is our environment, nature, and landscape. These visions become ideas that I, together with my team, then translate into the weaves and warps of Lyria fabrics. It's like translating impulses into a tactile experience.

The very name “The House of Lyria” has a deep meaning which attests to the very essence of the brand and its philosophy. What does it mean and why did you choose it?

Lyria takes its name from a rare, elegant spiral-shaped shell; a perfect harmony that originates from imperfection.

Your aesthetic vision also fits perfectly with an artisan sensibility and the concept of unbounded experimentation. What started the journey that led the brand to discover its identity?

The journey is as old as man.At some point in our evolutionary history, men realized that they could weave and that they needed clothing to protect themselves. Each generation contributes to this ancient tradition with some innovation, and I do so by experimenting with new materials to create unique fabrics. I look for inspiration, spice it up with tradition and a bit of feeling and mix it all with fleeting visions that I try to connect to the past. The brand is defined where consumer demand arises.

The House of Lyria embraces sustainability with the Cartagine Collection, giving new life to hundreds of offcuts and scraps of fabric. How are your textiles created and what stylistic influences do they convey?

Sustainability is now a requirement that we must take into account, not only in terms of recycling but also regarding the workforce that needs to be sustained in their respective home countries. I called the collection 'Cartagine’ (Carthage) because it was born in Tunis in a cooperative that takes apart old fabrics to create new objects. We are very proud to have embarked on this path, even if it means further explaining the project and the details of the production process to the general public, pushing us to think in a more sustainable way.

The philosophy of imperfection, encapsulated in the Japanese expression "Wabi-Sabi," is one of the brand's cardinal concepts. What does it mean and how can it be expressed in the textile design sector?

The philosophy of imperfection is the most human thing there is. Thinking about being perfect is a huge psychological burden, I don't understand why we don't realize that. Wabi-Sabi is an exaltation of imperfection, an art of living, whereas I believe that often what we notice can be considered a flaw and not a virtue. "Wabi-Sabi" is valuable evidence of quality and luxury, the proof that the craftsman is not a robot.