Global Folk, Remixed: How Traditional Patterns Are Inspiring Bold New Design

Folk art was never about perfection. It was about expression. It was created to be shared, passed down, and lived with. That spirit still resonates today, especially in a world that often feels too polished or disconnected.

TRENDSSURFACE DESIGNAFRICAN FOLK

Sheena

3/23/20251 min read

There’s something timeless about folk art. Whether it’s hand-carved, block-printed, embroidered, or painted, traditional patterns have always told stories about culture, memory, and place.

But lately, folk isn’t staying in the past. It’s being reworked, blown up, and remixed into something new. And I’m here for it.

The Rise of Folk-Inspired Design

In surface design, there’s been a return to bold motifs rooted in global traditions. African masks, South Asian florals, Indigenous beadwork, Eastern European embroidery, and Latin American weaving are all showing up in modern, expressive ways. But instead of copying, designers are remixing.

We’re seeing:

  • Folk shapes paired with unexpected color palettes

  • Layered textures inspired by natural dyes and hand techniques

  • Simplified and abstracted versions of traditional symbols

  • Digital repeats that still feel handmade

How I Remix Tradition

As a designer of West African descent, folk art isn’t just a source of inspiration for me; it’s part of my inheritance. The patterns, the symbolism, the rhythm of repetition and storytelling are things I grew up seeing, feeling, and absorbing.

In my work, I don’t try to replicate traditional art. I respond to it.

Take my print “Spotted Fish.” It pulls from the fluid, organic shapes found in riverine and coastal artwork, reimagined with bold contrast and graphic rhythm. Or look at my watercolor animal-inspired patterns which are expressive, hand-painted takes on leopard spots and zebra stripes. These designs are rooted in nature, yes, but also in cultural memory. Animal markings have long held symbolic meaning in African textiles, and I wanted to approach them in a way that felt personal, intuitive, and full of movement.

My “African Folk” collections are a tribute to this lineage. Patterns like “Crows & Papaya” and “Suns & Cattails” blend ancestral influence with a contemporary perspective. I let my heritage guide the story, but I always tell it in my own voice.

This work is about connection. It’s about honoring where I come from while adding something new to the conversation.

-xoxo Bonaise

Lef to right: Thebe Magugu, Lisa Folawiyo, Lisa Folawiyo, Imane Ayissi, and Imane Ayissi