Bangkok-born, London-based textile designer Lisa King always knew her Indonesian mother was an avid collector, from kimonos to Japanese crockery and furniture. But after spending six years sorting through her prized possessions following her death, she discovered there was one more surprise. “Last January, the warehouse that was storing some of her stuff was like, ‘Oh, we forgot about this container’ and it was 100 boxes of southeast Asian textiles,” King recounts over the phone.
” That’s why the designer has collaborated with British menswear brand New & Lingwood to create a 30-piece collection, launched during London Craft Week, of one-of-a-kind shirts, trousers, and dressing gowns created via upcycled fabrics from her mother’s archive. “We used silhouettes that we knew would resonate with customers, but it’s a bit experimental—we don’t really know what the reaction will be because batik can be quite full-on as an aesthetic,” King laughs.