Welcoming The DIANI x Tensira Collection

It’s here! I’m so excited and proud to share with you what I’ve been up to - My exclusive textiles collection for our DIANI collaboration with Tensira! My goal was to create easy, interchangeable stripes and solids in a chic and durable color palette that will work wherever you live, and for indoors or out. From bedrolls to seat cushions, table linens and dog beds, there’s something for everyone in this collection. All made with the same highly coveted kapok cotton and handmade in Africa, this collaboration is very close to my heart. I took all the styles for a test run around my home to show you the effortless ways you can use them… and, this collection is only available at DIANI!

Tensira combines centuries-old weaving techniques, indigo-dyeing processes and Nordic design to create beautiful textiles – think cushions, bedrolls, and linens. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in the Republic of Guinea in West Africa. This country has a special place in my heart as I was born in Kenya, plus I also love how Tensira promotes sustainable production and a fair workspace for artisans. Tuulia, the co-owner of Tensira, reached out to me last year with the idea to collaborate and I was very excited to dream up a collection with the DIANI DNA. I began creating visual mood boards illustrating the feel and color palette I was going for and then started creating the stripes and final color story for each fabric.

I designed several stripes and tie dyes that could be applied to bedding, lounging cushions and linens. I drew from my Kenyan roots where the earth is a specific hue, as well as the colors of my farmhouse in Upstate New York for colors like rich chestnut, beige limestone and slate grey. All the fabrics are 100% cotton and the spinning, weaving and dying is all done by hand in their workshop using traditional looms. Each piece is truly special – from the design to the production. I’m so excited to have the final collection in our store - it feels full circle to experience these pieces that I have been creating from afar for months. 

I wanted to create textiles for my customers who share my love of gatherings, easy living and unpretentious style. So I envisioned how these bedrolls, cushions and linens would look around my home in Santa Barbara, as well as my home in Upstate New York – two very different styles.

At our home in Santa Barbara we have an outdoor lounge area right next to our pool, which becomes a popular spot in the warmer months. So I used our new DIANI x Tensira bedrolls, which are made from 100% cotton with a kapok filling, as a comfortable and chic base. I started with this solid Dusky color, then these two striped ones on top (Sundowner and Greenwich). As a back rest, I layered cushions in a variety of colors, prints and sizes. 

Alternatively, for a warmer color palette in the lounge area I'm using this Safari Stripe Bedroll in a rusty red hue. It gives the space a completely different look and feel, but is equally as chic. I layered this bedroll on top of the Sunkissed Pebble Bedroll to add in a neutral tone and extra comfort. And to tie the space together, I layered in a mix of the Safari Stripe and Sunkissed Pebble printed cushions in a few different shapes and sizes.

If you are wanting to create a more neutral color palette in your outdoor lounge space opt for using the same color palette for the bedroll and cushions. I used both the Sunkissed Pebble Bedroll and the DIANI Signature Stripe Bedroll as a base to sit on and cushions in the same prints layered together as a back rest. The result is a soft, relaxing and luxurious vibe. Spa day anyone? 

It's safe to say I'm obsessed with these bedrolls. To extend the life of the bedrolls, I recommend these Bedroll Storage Pouches when not in use or when traveling. I also like to keep an extra bedroll on hand, especially for when I'm having gatherings. This Boot Basket is the perfect storage vessel to keep bedrolls, throws and cushions organized and easy to access.

Outdoor loungers are a warm weather essential no matter where you live. A couple years ago I invested in a few of these Maine Heritage Cots for Jeffrey’s birthday and we have gotten some great use out of them. I get asked about them often, so I reached out to the company and have started carrying them at DIANI Living. They're great for camping or lounging in the backyard, and made from natural wood.

Our DIANI x Tensira bedrolls make a great topper on the cot for extra comfort and style. I like to layer colors and prints together – like the Dusky Bedroll under the Sundowner Stripe Bedroll. Then add in a couple of cushions on top for the perfect lounging experience. A selection of our bedrolls are also made with a removable cover for easy washing here and here. 

Take poolside lounging to the next level and place one of our twin bedrolls right next to the pool. It will instantly become a luxurious and comfortable spot to relax before taking a cool dip this summer. This is also an easy and chic set up for guests when having a gathering. Bedrolls can be mixed and matched with cushions in different prints – like this Sundowner Cushion and this Greenwich Cushion with the Dusky Bedroll or Sundowner Bedroll.

Aside from cushions and bedrolls, I also collaborated with Tensira to design a collection of table linens. Here is a little sneak peak... I'll be sharing more in a future post, so stay tuned... 

I'm excited to be able to finally reveal this exclusive collection and hope there are pieces that you fall in love with as much as I do. For any questions, feel free to reach out to me at caroline@dianiboutique.com.

Sending lots of love,

Caroline