The Barcelona-based design house TextileSeekers celebrates craftsmanship and contemporary design with its new collection of objects

Through its new collection and its collaboration with Nick Tran, head of buying and merchandising at Dover Street Market Paris, TextileSeekers continues its exploration of artisanal skills and their fusion with contemporary design.

Founded in 2019 by former fashion designer Thao Phuong, the Barcelona-based design house TextileSeekers explores the dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design through collectable objects, as well as editorial stories, immersive experiences and collaborations with artisans and designers from around the world.

Rather than a traditional design brand, TextileSeekers forges links between craftsmanship, contemporary design and cultural exchange, placing at the heart of its approach the skills, materials and stories passed down through objects.

This vision takes shape in particular through ‘Objects by TextileSeekers’, an ongoing series of collectable objects that explores material, form and collaboration. Developed in collaboration with leading figures from the worlds of fashion, design and culture, each collection combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design through limited-edition pieces, created in close collaboration with specialist craftspeople.

Previous collections have included hand-carved combs made from horn and mother-of-pearl, lacquer bowls, malas, hairpins, brooches, chopsticks and bracelets, as well as various collectable items crafted from buffalo horn, ox bone, lacquer, wood, mother-of-pearl, silver, pearl and bronze.

Each piece is handcrafted using traditional artisanal techniques and natural materials, reflecting TextileSeekers’ commitment to craftsmanship, material culture and cultural exchange.

Object 23: a collaboration with Nick Tran

For the third instalment of ‘Objects by TextileSeekers’, Thao Phuong invited Nick Tran, Head of Buying and Merchandising at Dover Street Market Paris, to design an object centred on ritual, functionality and sculptural form.

The result, Object 23, is a limited-edition lacquered box comprising several modular compartments. Each element can be used separately to hold jewellery, incense or personal items, or stacked to form a sculptural structure.

Entirely handcrafted in Vietnam, each component is first carved from wood before undergoing a traditional lacquering process requiring more than twenty layers of lacquer. Each layer is applied, polished and finished by hand.

The various components are then assembled individually to fit together with the precision of a jigsaw puzzle. The box is finally wrapped in bamboo paper handmade by Hmong artisans from northern Vietnam.

With Object 23, TextileSeekers views lacquer not merely as a decorative finish, but as a living material tradition, capable of expressing itself through a contemporary object that is both functional and sculptural.

“Every collaboration is an exchange of ideas, references and expertise, giving rise to objects designed with rigour, intention and a focus on sustainability.” ​
​— Thao Phuong, founder of TextileSeekers

Collection 04 — Adornment

Alongside this collaboration, TextileSeekers presents Collection 04 – Adornment, the latest chapter in its in-house design collection.

This series continues to explore the theme of adornment through a collection of sculptural, handcrafted combs. Made from natural materials using traditional craft techniques, these pieces sit at the intersection of ritual, craftsmanship and everyday life.

Through this new collection, TextileSeekers continues its exploration of the relationship between the object and the body, transforming everyday objects into design pieces that are both functional and sculptural.

Object 23: collaboration with Nick Tran

Collection 04 – Adornment

About Nick Tran

Nick Tran is Head of Buying and Merchandising at Dover Street Market Paris, one of the world’s most influential retail platforms, founded by Rei Kawakubo and Adrian Joffe.

With over a decade’s experience in the buying and merchandising of luxury goods, Nick held various positions at major fashion platforms, including SSENSE and Prada, before joining Dover Street Market Paris. He is renowned for his discerning eye, his international perspective and his support for emerging designers.

For In Their Hands, Nick and Thao have designed a limited-edition lacquered box set that explores modularity, ritual and functionality through form.

Designed as a series of individual compartments, each element can be used separately or stacked with the others to form a sculptural object. This piece explores the idea that objects imbued with meaning can oscillate between utility, memory and display.

About Thao Phuong

Thao Phuong, founder of TextileSeekers, brings over two decades’ experience as a fashion designer. Driven by a long-standing admiration for craftsmanship, she founded TextileSeekers to explore traditional manufacturing practices in Vietnam and beyond, thereby creating a platform that brings together artisans, materials and contemporary design.

Following a period of travel that profoundly transformed her – during which she witnessed both the beauty and fragility of many artisanal traditions – Thao reoriented her work, moving away from fashion in favour of a slower, more thoughtful approach. TextileSeekers was born out of a desire to document, showcase and collaborate with talented craftspeople, in order to create pieces that pay homage to both heritage and contemporary life.

Rather than preserving craftsmanship behind a shop window, TextileSeekers believes that tradition remains relevant when it continues to evolve through thoughtful collaboration. Working closely with the craftspeople, the studio develops contemporary collections that respect the skills, materials and techniques passed down from generation to generation.

In 2026, TextileSeekers continues its journey by tracing the path of the hands behind each piece. Each collection is an exploration of materials, memory and places, shaped by dialogue with craftspeople and creative collaborators from around the world. The result is a body of work that reflects cultural exchange, celebrates exceptional craftsmanship and creates meaningful objects, designed to accompany the lives of several generations.