Leather & Leatherette

By Savitha Hira

Designer Genevieve Bennett blends effortless and simple design to create unique embossed leathers that could well be a lifetime investment in heightened aesthetics...

Embossed leather brings to mind a flurry of names – Jimmy Choo, Christian Dior, Tory Burch etc., and their ultimate style statements in crocodile, ostrich and other leathers. However, revisiting the interior accessories and finishing-material scenario, embossed and other processed leather coverings are making new waves, in both their real and faux wrappings.

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In the wake of some new designs and applications, a name that refuses to be ignored is that of Genevieve Bennett.  Applying highly innovative techniques to the material in a totally unique manner, Genevieve creates beautiful functional products aimed to enhance interiors in a simple, contemporary, and elegant style.

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Talking about the strength of her hand-drawn designs and her ability to translate them into innovative techniques and processes, her USP is her exceptional eye for colour, pattern and detail.

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“Present day international trends lay emphasis on colour as an important influencer. Consumers and designers alike, focus on craftsmanship and an investment in something that will last a lifetime,” says Genevieve. Consequently, she has honed her skills to suit the spectrum of finishing-material requirements in an ever-changing scenario of residential, corporate, and hospitality sectors, catering to a spate of discerning end-users.

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Having specialized in developing interesting techniques such as embossing, engraving and inlaid techniques in leather, Genevieve tends to constantly push her boundaries into making something beautiful, innovative and durable. One among her outstanding creations is a wall panel for the grand prix formula one season last year at Silverstone, which was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the unique heritage of f1 motorsport and leather working. She took the shape of the track at Silverstone and created an overlaid linear motif and engraved it into the surface of a beautiful white leather for the wall panel.

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Genevieve lives in West London with her husband and two-year old son and looks forward to continue creating bespoke leather wall coverings working with the best interior designers globally. The enthusiastic artist also aspires to collaborate with a furniture or product designer to develop designs in other product areas such as rugs and home accessories, etc.