A Printmaker Grows in Brooklyn
The value of reexamination is inherent in works of true craftsmanship—each time you stop to admire them, you notice something new and captivating—something you never saw before.
Susan Connor’s exquisite designs are no exception. After experimenting with different printmaking techniques for over a year, Susan launched her eponymous collection of textiles and homewares in 2014. She was determined to find a print method that perfectly translated the patterns she was envisioning in her head. “I became interested in a level of detail that was so small and delicate it almost formed a second layer of texture,” she says.
Each piece in Susan’s collection is entirely hand-printed, sustainably sourced, and locally produced in Brooklyn. “I’m very picky about the quality and mood that something has—the essence of the material,” she says. “I really love natural materials…I’m not interested in stuff that’s processed or glossy or refined. I’m interested in things that feel more like part of us. I spend a lot of time making sure the materials are something people can instantly connect with when they feel them for the first time.”
Maintaining the connection between her pieces and her customers is integral to Susan’s artistic process. In addition to the aesthetic of each piece, utility is always top of mind. “I gravitate toward designs that are not only beautiful, but also serve a purpose,” Susan says. “That’s why I was drawn specifically to textiles—they can become so many different things.”
Meticulous craftsmanship brings this marriage of form and function to life. In the production process for Susan’s collection, everything from the initial pattern sketching to the ink mixing and block printing is done by hand. “I’m not a fast and furious designer,” says Susan. “I have a really long arc. I don’t want stuff to last just a season or two.”
Susan’s appreciation for designs that transcend time and trends comes from her childhood. “My mom and dad didn’t buy a lot of things, but the stuff they bought were things they cherished,” Susan says. “So that’s really important to me about the designs…especially with homewares. You’re going to look at them every day. I try to create things that every time you look at them, you don’t get tired of them. You see them and you’re really glad you own them. That’s the key for me.”
