Founder Riccardo Bruni’s uniquely creative vision was sparked by a successful textile designer whom he met as a child. The strikingly elegant and artistically minded gentleman stood in sharp contrast to the simple countryside environs of Bruni’s family business, planting a seed in the boy’s mind of what his future could hold. In the manner of an artist, Bruni draws inspiration from all around—people and stories recalled from travels around the world, old photography books, memories of his grandparents’ linen sheets. Still, his creative spirit is rooted in looking forward, in experimentation and playing with traditional craftsmanship to create something new and alive.

The process of creating a Lyria textile begins with its very essence: structure and substance. Bruni prizes natural fibers such as wool, linen and cotton, trying unusual combinations and unconventional looming techniques to create interesting textures and to give fabrics a longer life. Colors are often natural and muted, as if from ancient times. They are created using organic sources—coffee, tea, ashes—instead of chemical dyes. Lyria’s palette is also inspired by the forest, using elements like bark, leaves and musk. “These can create the most beautiful colors that never cease to amaze,” says Bruni.