Louth artist launches beautiful new range of table linens combining heritage with contemporary living

The Ukrainian native who has been living in Dromiskin, near Dundalk, for the past 15 years, is delighted to have combined her love for interiors with her passion for visual arts in her first collection of table linens.

Working as an interior designer, she says that clients often asked her for ideas to dress their dining tables, enquiring about table cloths and runners.

"That’s where I got the inspiration,” she says.

She set about creating the range which she wanted to reflect her artwork, the Irish heritage and to be sustainable.

"I started to research Irish linen and it’s super sustainable and a heritage fabric but is disappearing from the market and there are very few linen mills and manufacturers left in Ireland.”

She found that while people have great sentimentality for Irish linen much of what is now for sale is primarily aimed at the tourist market, with shamrocks and Celtic designs.

"I wanted to create something more modern using linen so I’ve created three different designs.”

After extensive research, she decided to incorporate Ogham writing into the designs.

"It’s an ancient form of writing found on standing stones so I thought I’d use that instead of the traditional Celtic designs as it would be something different.”

Two of the ranges feature floral patterns based on her artworks while the third is classic white linen with embroidery.

Each range includes table cloths, table runners and napkins.

It was, she admits, a real challenge to find a supplier but eventually she worked with a linen manufacturer based in Co Donegal.

"It was very important for me that the linen is made in Ireland, that everything is sustainable, including the packaging.”

Each piece features an array of vivid colours, created with water-based pigment inks and dyes, using a technique that not only minimises waste, but also conserves energy and water.

Lana hand embroiders each piece with Ogham letters spelling home.

"I’ve been doing the embroidery in Creative Spark and I’ve got great support there and also from the Louth Local Enterprise Office.”

"It’s been such a journey. I started dreaming about doing this two years ago and worked on it for the best part of a year.”

As well as bringing this dream project to life, Lana continues to work as an interior designer and had her first solo exhibition in The Market House, Dunleer and also showed work in The Gaslight Gallery in Gorey.

Lana says she is “overwhelmed” by the response to her collection of table linens.

"The launch at the Ideal Homes Show was amazing, I got chatting with the wonderful Sophie Robinson, who is the most talented designer, TV presenter and colour expert.”

“I really enjoyed creating this collection so much that I would like to do more.”

Lana’s table linens can be purchased from her website https://lanadullaghandesigns.com and she hopes to have them stocked in homeware stores in the coming months.