London Design Festival 09: Lebanese designers Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri of Bokja have created ten pieces for The Quirico Company featuring vintage furniture covered in antique fabrics.

The furniture will be presented at Tent London from 24 to 27 September.

See our earlier story on Bokja for the Al Sabah Art & Design Collection at DesignMiami 08.

All our stories about London Design Festival 2009 can be seen in our special category.

Here's some more information from Bokja:

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Bokja is a Lebanese furniture company, set up in 2000 by Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri. Hoda always had a passion for ancient tapestries and textiles, and Maria for antique furniture.

The two women joined forces nine years ago to combine their talents and create Bokja (an old Turkish word for the embellished velvet wrapping containing the traditional hand-embroidered dowry of a bride).

Bokja’s creations are coveted by collectors, interior designers, celebrities and design-savvy shoppers the world over. They have been selected for the new Matthew Williamson store in Manhattan, and Christian Louboutin stores worldwide.  As well as being included in the current retrospective of Li Edelkoort’s work in Paris, alongside Marcel Wanders, Christian Lacroix and Philippe Starck, mapping out the broad themes that have, and continue to, influence trends  in design.

The Bokja philosophy is to blur the line between art and design, and to add a touch of bold colour and texture to any interior. Sustainability and meticulous craftsmanship are also a big part of its mission, and all of its pieces are handmade by traditional craftsmen. In addition, Bokja gives a percentage of its proceeds to local organisations that empower local women.

Today the Bokja studio is located in the heart of Beirut and employs a team of highly specialised artisans who reinvent pieces of antique furniture with textiles from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s –  a piece of tapestry, a Suzani textile and the lace from a handkerchief are all part of the Bokja palette.

Bokja’s work is now being introduced to the British market, by The Quirico Company.

Having spent six years living in Milan, Sarah Richards of The Quirico Company discovered many beautiful artisan products. On returning to the UK in 2007 Sarah set up the company in order to introduce them to the UK market. She continues to source unique pieces and will be adding to the range of clients and products she represents in the UK.