The Universe Blanket

Everything started back in December when Olend met the artist Alicia Vogel. The idea was to embrace Alicia’s aesthetic and combine it with Olend’s designs, the outcome of which was The Universe Blanket.

Spain-based backpacks design studio Olend and renowned Spanish artist Alicia Vogel collaborated to launch a limited edition blanket, designed exclusively for Olend’s living community. Olend is a handmade backpacks brand founded in Barcelona by Adriana Dumon, Fran Rios & Antonio Longas in late 2012. The story behind Olend is about traveling, and it is about challenges. It is inspired by the spirit of the mountaineers from the ’40s and ’50s. All of their items are exclusive and there are no two identical backpacks. Olend is a committed supporter of high-quality and long-lasting products. Only local products are used for the outcome and everything is made with care and patience.

Olend was born for those curious creatures which are exploring the world, working, and creating their path. Using in-depth local knowledge and the needs of creative individuals, Olend became a need, it’s not only about carrying items, it’s a way of expression and lifestyle. From a local brand, started with imaginations and vision, now you can find Olend backpacks worldwide. From the heart of urban cities to the depth of the Amazon Jungle, they put their heart, soul, and wanderlust into providing forever-travelers, break-takers, and staycaters with a new way of living.

In December 2020 Olend invited Alicia Vogel and her creative mind to design a limited edition blanket. Alicia is a multidisciplinary artist based in Barcelona, where she graduated in Fine Arts with a specialization in engraving and screen printing. Her pieces have been exhibited in various galleries and museums in Barcelona and Japan. Currently, she has chosen to focus on textile design: she takes advantage of the symbolic load that the fabric has and adds her illustrations and typographies to create narrative and curious pieces, always taking care of the quality of the materials and with low production of limited editions.

Alicia Vogel joins forces with unique brands to create unique pieces, such as her latest collaboration - with Olend Backpacks - which created The Universe Blanket, a jewel blanket with hand-silkscreened illustrations and handmade brass toe caps. Alícia also composes and performs her songs, which someone once defined as religious garage music. Alicia is especially inspired by mythology, comics (arguably modern mythology), and the equine form.

“The objects that have caught my attention the most in other people’s houses or decoration publishing houses have always been textiles and chairs,” says Alicia. “Perhaps because I am, or understand them, as the most obvious symbols of what a home is. And textiles specifically, already have meaning in texture and color that give a lot of play and help create a complete narrative with the illustrations.”

The process of the creation was long, since there were more stages involved, and she was involved in all of them. From making the illustrations, choosing the fabrics and colors, doing printing tests, cutting to size, stamping the final pieces, and designing each cover. The stamping process has many steps, and even more if you decide to screen print by hand, like with this blanket. The photolith (an acetate with the illustration in opaque ink) is prepared from the illustration, which will be used to pass the image to the screen printing screen from an isolation process, with the screen previously prepared with a photosensitive emulsion. And voilà! The screen is ready to stamp the blankets one by one.

The Blanket itself can be described as an art home piece. It was designed to bring the universe home. Use it as an art piece on your wall or feel warm while watching that classic movie for the 10th time. This cozy blanket is made with the warmest wool and the softest cashmere to help you get through the coldest days of this decade. It comes in two colors that will accompany any interior, and any kind of mood, happy, stressed, or emotional the universe is at home with you! It features graphical shapes inspired by the universe, covered with modern elements that design into one textile creation.

By joining forces with Olend Backpacks, they are combining the best of two worlds. Alicia’s partnership with Olend raised the bar for collaborative design in homeware creations and makes greater value and choice for their customers. This is a limited edition of 24 blankets handcrafted in Barcelona. The universe around you, at home.