Introducing 'Archive No. 1': A Studio AHEAD x Erica Tanov Collaboration

We are honored to announce our inaugural collaboration with Studio AHEAD — Archive No. 1. Conceived by the designers Elena Dendiberia, Homan Rajai, and Erica Tanov, Archive No. 1 is imbued with a recurring narrative of textural, pared-back motifs and traditional embroidery techniques. Reflective of each designer’s personal knowledge of fibers, the ready-to-wear and home textiles collection can be explored both online and in store. Read on for our conversation with Homan and Elena below for more about the vision behind Archive No. 1 and the story of how these California-based designers first met.

How did you two first meet? And what led to you both building Studio AHEAD?

We were working for a design firm focused on 17th to 20th century European antiques. The more we got to know each other, the more we realized that we were dreaming a similar dream…We gravitated toward the raw organic wood forms of JB Blunk and Ido Yoshimoto, more than the marquetry of a Louis XVI commode. We were both into the democratization of design…We were into the warm glow of Noguchi’s paper lanterns, rather than the imperialist energy of gold leafed chandeliers…More interested in sitting on a Persian divan with pillows thrown around than a stiff settee. We appreciate craftsmanship that marries traditional lineage with contemporary life; we like embracing our multicultural backgrounds while exploring the regional culture, art history and nature that surrounds us. This led us to start dreaming up our firm.

How did you first meet Erica Tanov?

Erica is magic, she’s created her own reality, she doesn’t follow the fashion timeline of seasons, she creates when it feels right, she isn’t trendy or of the moment, she’s about longevity and authenticity to her brand, she invites artists in to co-collaborate. She’s in icon in our area and her clothes have been in Sex in the City. So we knew of her first and we of course had mutual friends but hadn’t met yet. As our business started growing, we needed photoshoots of ourselves for the press. Elena and I were shy about this, but though it would be more fun and calm the nerves if someone we respected styled us. Erica came first in mind because of her ethos, California regionality and lifestyle-oriented clothes. No kidding–we dm’ed her and she was like "I’m in." She showed up personally (which is why we love her), and within minutes we were tops off, being styled by Erica and feeling great. We had a blast and were dying laughing because at the time our office was a shoe box and that was were we were shooting for a story. Us in our office, in that intimate setting, we became fast friends and collaborators.

What initially drew you all to each other's practices? Was there a specific shared sensibility or ethos that stood out to you?

We are Northern California creatives in our respective fields, we cross pollinate in alternate realities; Erica is fashion, but curates artists, explores home goods, helps culturally important non-profits. We are designers, but we create furniture, have a journal, curate exhibitions, have furniture. We are birds of a feather.

What were your initial visions when you began the collaboration? What were some of the visual reference points that guided it? Would you take us through your research process?

Erica gave us the opportunity to explore another realm. She is the perfect entry as a friend we trust and respect to explore ourselves in fashion and textiles. She makes us feel safe. There is certainly a particular visual language we resonate with that manifests through Studio AHEAD projects and our furniture collection. It’s all inspired by our exploration of Northern California’s natural world, experiences being in nature and collecting feelings and memories that we consequently translate into a subconscious visual narrative. There are a lot of simple things that create those memories–a slow exploration in the Muir woods blanketed by trees and filtered light, a picnic table set by a friend in Sebastopol with seasonal fruits, flowers and vegetables from their gardens, collecting pebbles and rocks on Limantour Beach–that over time have been rounded by the ebb and flow of water. Sometimes we capture images of particular textures and objects, pieces of art that inspire us: weathered timber post in Point Reyes, an L-shaped rock from the border of Northern California and Oregon, early Gordon Onslow Ford paintings from his studio in Inverness. There are no direct references to particular objects, but rather a kaleidoscopic library of shapes and objects we capture in our explorations. Imperfect and soft, fluid and ever-evolving.

How did the collaboration adapt and evolve throughout the design process?

The challenge for us in this collaboration was to translate our often 3-dimensional designs to fabric. Materiality is important to us as we often work with material boards creating narratives through juxtapositions of materials, textures and shapes. Having the motifs we designed being embroidered felt like the most close application of our approach. We love that embroidery creates another dimension in the surface of the fabric, showing a hand feel and adding a different tactile experience with a fabric. Considering that we were venturing into new territory for our practice, Erica made the whole process extremely comfortable, taking our ideas to the next level by developing different styles and densities of embroidery for collaboration and creating a soft nature-inspired palette for the pieces.

How do practices like time-honored traditions, handcraft, and sustainability appear in your work?

We believe there is a Northern California cultural narrative that needs to be told similar to how Alice Waters brought local farm-to-table cuisine here, we try to bring local design to the home. We are deeply inspired by the rich culture of Northern California and the community of craftsmen and artisans who develop and elevate this narrative through their practice. They work with humble Californian materials. They live in forests and on the beaches in some of the most beautiful parts of the region. Their lifestyle is a representation of what we like about this place. We love learning about them, learning from them, seeing how they work, what processes and techniques they utilize. We are both very curious, and we make it a point to do studio visits because that’s when we feel most inspired and alive. As an effort to give back to the local community of artisans we discovered, we started California: A Journal, a blog inspired by Northern California's vibrant culture. Each month we spotlight an artist, designer, architect, or any other type of creative persona that inspires us. In 2023 we started a biennial, Same Blue As The Sky, celebrating the community of artists who inspire Studio AHEAD. Each edition, we invite a select group of legacy and contemporary artists with diverse backgrounds, mediums, and approaches to reflect broadly on Northern California. Northern California’s geological features leave their mark on the subconscious—from Marin’s golden hills to pebbles washed smooth on Muir Beach. Our production line translates these dreamy, vague shapes into very real pieces that induce a calming effect and bring one closer to nature. We use wool felt shorn from sheep grazed in Sonoma County. In its unprocessed state, this wool, with its seasonal changes in texture and tone, becomes a chronicle of the year’s weather, grasses, and flock.

How do you imagine people will interact with the resulting textiles and garments from this collaboration?

You never know. How people style it, put it together. Where they wear it, what occasion, will they save it for a special occasion or will it be a regular piece they wear all the time. I hope we get to know and in many cases we won’t! Send us photos, tag us. We love seeing! People make things magic when they are living with it and using it.

What might the next edition of the Studio AHEAD x Erica Tanov Archive collection look like to you?

The name of the collaboration Archive No. 1 suggests a continuation of our creative dialogue. Let's see were the conversation takes us.