CORDOVA BORDERS
GRADUATION PROJECT III
2026
The Brief
Alongside the furnishing developments, the project involved developing trim colourways and new trim directions for VAYA’s 2026 collection.
New trim concepts were explored, building on UTM’s existing vocabulary of technique, structure, scale and colour while expanding the assortment in a fresher direction.
For VAYA Home, Universal Textile Mills
Design Direction
The new trim direction was guided by keywords such as organic, biomorphic, hand-drawn, undulating, layered, textural, and rhythmic.
These informed a more fluid, abstract, and contemporary visual language, moving beyond conventional ornamental borders while remaining relevant to VAYA’s furnishing context.
Concepts & Ideations
Selected Trims
While the concepts were appreciated as a whole, final designs were shortlisted for their compatibility with the existing range and ease of in-house production, allowing for efficient sampling and development.
Design 01 - Cedra
The first trim direction was developed around a visual language defined by the keywords broken symmetry, linear rhythm, totemic, restrained, and architectural.
The intention was to create a contemporary border that relied on bold linear forms rather than decorative motifs, introducing a clean, structured aesthetic that was complemented with a combination of aari and viscose embroidery.
Design 02 - Strata
The second trim explored a softer, fluid language, using rhythmic, irregular, undulating, hand-drawn and wave-like forms to create movement within a clean structure.
A palette of closely related shades or subtly contrasted colours kept the focus on the rhythm and flow of the embroidered line.
Design 03 - Altair
The third trim reinterpreted architectural and geometric forms into a contemporary border, balancing bold graphic elements with restrained simplicity.
Two stitch directions were explored, with contour-following embroidery selected for its ability to reinforce the geometry while adding greater depth and movement to the design.
Design 04 - Elowen
The fourth trim explored a modern, architectural language through refined linear and geometric forms. Originally considered for velvet appliqué, the direction was adapted to suit the project timeline and UTM’s production strengths.
Drawing on UTM’s expertise in cord embroidery, cord and thread were combined with textured stitch constructions to introduce depth, dimension, and surface variation.
Design 05 - Montara
The fifth trim extended the architectural language of the previous development, exploring abstraction, sleek geometry, and contemporary minimalism.
A clean, linear stitch direction followed the geometry of the design, maintaining crisp forms while reinforcing its architectural character and creating a refined, modern finish.
Design 06 - Tecton
The sixth trim combined simplified organic forms with a crisp linear accent, creating a rhythmic composition that balanced softness with a more structured, sculptural quality.
Aari embroidery enhanced the rounded forms through its density and weight, adding tactile richness while retaining clean edges and introducing greater variety to VAYA’s trim offering.
