Mary Murphy is the Senior Vice President of Design at Maharam, which she joined in 1992 after a stint at Herman Miller. The New York-based brand has been a prominent force in the textile world since 1902 and was acquired by Herman Miller in 2013. Murphy graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design’s masters program and went on to become an interior designer where she gained first-hand knowledge about textiles. She has guided the Maharam Design Studio’s development of commercial and residential textiles, a collection that continues to grow through her collaborative vision with the team. Murphy has also fostered their continued relationships with well-known designers, like Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, Paul Smith, and Scholten & Baijings, which is why the brand continues to create fresh, innovative, and trustworthy products. In this week’s Friday Five, Mary Murphy shares five places, objects, and things that she loves. Take a look.
1. Ethiopian cross
My Ethiopian cross was purchased from a dealer in Addis Ababa. I find the Ethiopian culture to be so rich, including the history of Christianity dating back to the fourth century. Typically a cross such as this would be carried by a priest in a religious procession.
2. Khadi cloth
I like to buy textiles that represent the countries I visit. My favorite saris from India are made from handspun, handwoven cotton. The simplicity and purity of the process and the fabric is what appeals to me. Khadi was a symbol of rebellion and self-reliance instituted by Gandhi.