Herman Miller Revives Alexander Girard's Iconic Textile Designs with New Pendleton Blanket Collection

Herman Miller, a renowned American furniture and lifestyle brand with a rich history in modern design, has launched a collection of three new Pendleton blankets featuring patterns originally conceived by the influential designer Alexander Girard in the mid-1960s. These contemporary releases draw directly from Girard's extensive design archives, breathing new life into his distinctive and joyful aesthetic for a modern audience. The original Girard throw blankets were first produced in 1965 as a key component of an ambitious and groundbreaking brand identity system for Braniff International Airlines. This comprehensive campaign, famously dubbed "The End of the Plain Plane," aimed to revolutionize air travel through a vibrant and cohesive visual language. Girard's design expertise was applied across numerous touchpoints, from the bold graphics on aircraft exteriors and the functional design of ticketing counters to the small, yet impactful, customer amenities like in-flight dinnerware, matchbooks, and, notably, the wool and cotton blankets. The multicolor checkerboard pattern, in particular, became a signature element, embodying Girard's characteristic exuberance and playful approach to design.

The new blanket offerings from Herman Miller include a striking multicolor stripe, a warm brown-and-yellow checkerboard, and a vibrant pink-and-green checkerboard, all meticulously recreated from Girard's original motifs. The development of these new patterns was a collaborative effort between Herman Miller and Girard Studio. Girard Studio is a family-run entity dedicated to the preservation and thoughtful promotion of the work of Alexander Girard, who passed away in 1993. Currently co-directed by two of Girard's grandchildren, Aleishall Girard Maxon and Kori Girard, the studio plays a crucial role in ensuring that the designer's artistic legacy is accurately and respectfully represented. Alexander Girard was a foundational figure at Herman Miller, serving as the founding director of the company's textile division from the 1950s through the 1970s. During his tenure, Girard, in partnership with Herman Miller, was instrumental in redefining the landscape of modern contract textiles. He infused them with an unprecedented level of brightness, bold color, humor, and a touch of whimsical charm, establishing a design philosophy that continues to resonate and shape contemporary design trends.

In an email communication with Fast Company, Aleishall and Kori Girard elaborated on their grandfather's intuitive relationship with color. They explained that for Girard, color was less an academic pursuit and more an instinctual tool for creating environments and products that could evoke profound emotional responses from their users. They described his remarkable ability to wield color, capable of employing a multitude of subtle neutrals with sparingly placed, saturated pops of color, or conversely, orchestrating a "riot of hues" that were simultaneously bold and harmoniously cohesive. This latest collaboration between Herman Miller and Girard Studio highlights the enduring appeal and timeless quality of Girard's mid-century modern designs, demonstrating their continued capacity to infuse contemporary living spaces with warmth, personality, and a distinctive artistic flair.