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Neisha Crosland

Title
Honorary Fellow
Person Type
Honorary
Neisha Crosland

Biography

Honorary fellow

World-renowned designer whose work graces high-end fashion, interiors and film sets, Neisha Crosland’s designs are archived at the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Geffrye Museum.

A graduate of Camberwell College of Arts and Royal College of Art (RCA), Neisha Crosland found her calling when she accidentally stumbled on the V&A Ottoman Textile Gallery. So overwhelmed by the bold 16th century pieces, she switched from studying Graphic Design to Textile Design.

While oversized graphics and symmetrical geometric motifs would come to define her work, her influences have been varied, spanning the Russian Constructivists, 16th century Japanese Kimonos and even bubble wrap.

Crosland has designed for major fashion labels such as Marc Jacobs, Christian Lacroix and Mario Testino; in addition to household names such as John Lewis. However, it was leading fabric and wallpaper manufacturer Osborne & Little that first commissioned her at her 1986 RCA post-graduate show. Crosland’s ‘Star’ wallpaper, launched in 1987, became an instant bestseller.

In 1994 Crosland started her own textile label, launching her first range of scarves in 1996. An eponymous collection of wallpapers quickly followed in 1999. Nowadays, Crosland’s distinctive designs can be found internationally, from rugs to tiles, stationary, porcelain, shoes, umbrellas and even Virago reissue book covers. Her designs are used by top decorators in 5-star hotels, restaurants and clubs worldwide, including London’s Claridge’s and Annabel’s, Monaco’s Monte Carlo Beach Hotel, and Chez Panisse in San Francisco; as well as on the film sets of Pedro Almodóvar and Baz Luhrmann, and advertising campaigns for Miu Miu and Topshop.

In 2006 she was honored with a Royal Designer for Industry Distinction and in 2016 her first book was published by Merrell, entitled ‘Neisha Crosland: Life of a Pattern.’