Vlisco, the Dutch heritage brand celebrated for its iconic printed fabrics, has teamed up with renowned Dutch graphic designer Karel Martens on a limited-edition textile design inspired by The Algorithm of Nature.
Inspired by nature, Karel Martens’ one-of-a-kind print reflects the same spirit that drives Vlisco: exploration, exchange, and transformation. Years of research have culminated in this unique print in Martens’ signature style, where dynamic shapes and saturated colour build into an abstracted floral composition. Close up, the design reads as a grid of colour blocks, but from a distance, a floral form emerges, constructed through repetition, fragmentation, and dynamic use of colour.
Centered around Vlisco’s seasonal theme The Algorithm of Nature, the design brings together seemingly opposing forces – organic form and systematic logic – to create something bold yet intuitive. Printed on 100% premium quality cotton and produced in limited quantities, the textile sits somewhere between functional fabric and collectible design object.
The project began in 2017, evolving over nearly a decade of experimentation between Martens and the Vlisco design team. Through this process, Martens developed an algorithm that deconstructs a flower into essential visual elements, translating it into a language suited for wax print. The final design, titled W1939 (a reference to Martens’ birth year) reflects a shared approach to making: layering colour, form, and time to allow unexpected outcomes to emerge. While their disciplines differ, both Martens and Vlisco are rooted in process, structure, and a willingness to experiment.
Karel Martens is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary graphic design. Renowned for his experimental use of typography, colour, and form, the Dutch designer transforms graphic systems into visual rhythm — where letters become shapes and layouts convey movement. Spanning decades of editorial design, bookmaking, and printmaking, his practice continues to shape how contemporary designers think about graphic design as both craft and a cultural language.
Founded in 1846, Vlisco is a heritage textile company renowned for its distinctive wax print technique and ongoing collaborations with artists. For 180 years, the brand has continued to push the boundaries of textile design through process-driven innovation rooted in time-honored craftsmanship. Each unique Vlisco print sparks the imagination, celebrates culture and community, and inspires bold, joyful self-expression.
The limited-edition print will be available online starting in June at vlisco.com.
Fotografie: Vlisco
