In the canon of interior design, Sheila Bridges is a modern icon, becoming well-known by her trademark of infusing Blackness into the Eurocentric fabric art known as “Toile de Jouy” (most often simply referred to as “toile”). Traditionally, toile depicts pastoral scenes of frolicking French nobility and peasants of the Caucasian persuasion; Bridges’ spin on the classic fabric, “the Harlem Toile,” reminds the viewer that we Black folk like to frolic, too.
“I didn’t ever see myself represented in any of the designs…So, I created my own,” Bridges says in a statement provided to The Glow Up by classic sneaker brand Converse, which on Wednesday announced a capsule collection with the famed creative as part of Converse x Union, their ongoing collaboration with the 29-year-old independent designers’ collective and retailer Union, run by Chris Gibbs in Los Angeles.
This “All Star” collaboration is “part of Converse’s ongoing commitment to support Black creatives by amplifying their voices,” says the brand in its release. Bridges’ prints are put to artful use on classic Converse silhouettes and apparel, adding a subversive twist to a brand well-loved by Gen Z-ers and vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris alike.
“Exhibiting a duality in expression, the toile depicts scenes of African American culture in the style of French toile and lampoons common stereotypes while also celebrating the culture,” says the brand, further explaining:
While the print has found a permanent home at some of the world’s most prominent museums, a desire for democratization led Gibbs and Bridges to Converse and the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star, long celebrated as a symbol of style, self-expression and accessibility. Marking the first iteration of the Harlem Toile on footwear, the sneaker’s classic white canvas serves as a base for Bridges’ design, which is punctuated by an expressive orange outsole and blue laces for alternate styling.
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