Brunschwig & Fils | Bukara Warp Print

A warp print is made by printing the threads before the cloth is woven, which gives the design a soft, slightly blurred edge, rather than the crisp line of a surface print. Bukara has that quality. The motifs seem to breathe into the ground, and the silk content gives the cloth a faint, living sheen that shifts as light moves across it. It is a pattern with depth rather than contrast, and it reads as considered rather than loud, even where the scale is generous.

The cloth is a blend of 48% polyester, 34% silk and 18% cotton, and it is 56 in (142.24 cm) wide. The vertical repeat is 12 in (30.48 cm) and the horizontal repeat is 17.5 in (44.45 cm), a wide, shallow repeat that spreads gracefully across a width without feeling busy. The polyester lends stability, the cotton keeps the hand dry, and the silk supplies the lustre. Together they make a fabric that handles more readily than pure silk would.

We would use it for curtains in a bedroom or dining room, where the sheen can be seen from a distance and the soft pattern flatters evening light. It also makes a very good upholstered headboard, and cushions on a sofa or daybed, where the pattern can be centred to advantage. Pair it with a plain linen or a quiet velvet in a colour pulled from the print, and keep other patterns small so the warp effect remains the focus of the room.

For making up, the horizontal repeat is wide, so match carefully across widths and allow extra for pattern placement when you order. Silk-blend cloth is sensitive to sunlight over time, so we always recommend a good lining, and interlining for curtains, to protect the face and improve the fall. On upholstery, ask the upholsterer to centre the motif on the panel and to avoid heavy abrasion. We would suggest professional cleaning only, and a small test cut before committing to a full order.