BZDesign:: Asheville NC, handmade home furnishings and wearables

I’ve always been fascinated with textiles and the influence they have on our culture. Inspired by the things around me—color, movement, light, nature, architecture and design—I am moved to create art for everyday use. Functional textiles can enhance our lives in subtle yet powerful ways—from expressing who we are to communicating emotion.

Barbara Zaretsky is a textile artist and the director of Cloth Fiber Workshop. Originally from the Chicago area, she studied textile design at Northern Illinois University and the Art Institute of Chicago, and Art History at the University of Illinois. In 2001 she moved to Asheville, became a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and continued her education at Penland School of Crafts. Zaretsky has operated BZDesign for over 20 years. In her line of home furnishings and wearable accessories she incorporates organic and sustainable materials.

Photo by Troy Winterrowd

The materials we use at BZDesign include natural dye extracts, sustainable or organic fabrics and textile paints.

Our warm earthy palette is achieved by using natural dyes that are extracted from plants, including: osage orange, madder root, chestnut, and logwood purple.

The fabric we use most often is hand spun, hand woven “Peace” silk. This type of silk is obtained using a humane process that allows the silk moth to emerge from the cocoon and live out it’s full life cycle. When the moth breaks through the cocoon the silk fiber is broken into many smaller strands, so the harvested silk is spun similar to cotton or linen, instead of being reeled. The resulting yarn is soft, fluffy, and light.

Our block printed designs are created with hand carved or repurposed blocks and textile paints.

Located in the historic Cotton Mill Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District, BZDesign shares studio space with Cloth Fiber Workshop.

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