Colours of Arley founder and photographer Louisa Tratalos shares the treasured possessions she would save first, from her Leica cameras and Nan Goldin poster to the striped dog bed that inspired her brand.
In our regular column, interiors and lifestyle editor Georgina Blaskey asks inspiring names from the worlds of interiors, food, travel and lifestyle to reveal the objects they cherish most.
Patch’s Dog Bed
I rehomed Patch in lockdown, and his upholstered striped bed was what gave me the idea for Colours of Arley. It will always be a really special colour combination to me, Blue Skies & Postbox.
Sabah Pistachio Slippers
These were a pair of slippers we designed in collaboration with Sabah. We love telling stories through stripe colour combinations, so for this particular shoe, we looked to where Sabahs are made in Turkey. We wanted to celebrate the use of pistachios in the cuisine there, a place I spent a lot of summers growing up with my Mum and Grandma. They sold out but I’ve kept a pair for my daughter, Cilla.
My Leica Collection
I learnt to take pictures on a Leica and I’ve been an addict ever since. My cameras are a huge part of my work, as I shoot all the photography for Colours of Arley. I follow all the bespoke stripes into the worlds in which they end up, documenting the people who commission them and the places they call home. It’s my favourite part of having the brand.
Painting of Patch
My Dad got me this for my birthday a few years ago and I couldn’t believe it. His friend is a really great painter and he’s really encapsulated Patch’s spirit and character.
Original 1992 Nan Goldin Poster
One of my favourite photo books as a female photographer is Nan Goldin’s The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. It inspired me to take portraits of women, so this original 1992 Nan Goldin poster will always have a place in our home. Anything Nan Goldin, to be honest.
Our Photography Book Collection
My boyfriend has a bookshop, Record 28 Books, next to the Colours of Arley studio in Shoreditch. It specialises in rare and out-of-print photobooks, so our ‘keep collection’ at home is pretty special.
Paperweight from my Grandad
I used to visit my Grandad, who was an accountant, at his home in South Manchester and he had all these piles of paper and bills around, and on top was this glass paperweight and I loved it. One day he gave it to me and I’ll treasure it forever.
Studio Bust Sculpture
Getting pregnant was far from straightforward for me, but we got there in the end. My Studio Bust marble sculpture of me pregnant reminds me how amazing the female body can be. I could also have chosen our baby scan picture, all her knitted cardigans from extended family and all the bunny-inspired gifts, as she was born on Easter Sunday, but I’ll stick with the bust.
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