Textile, Doria Squares, 1967

Larsen’s architectural clients relied on him for fabrics that looked (and often were) hand-woven to add character to a space without necessarily adding pattern. Equally important to that neutral-yet-interesting look was his use of hand-spun yarns made from ungraded fibers. “I came to the conclusion that the great loss of the Industrial Revolution was not hand weaving, but hand spinning,” he wrote. He first encountered hand-spun yarns in Haiti in 1952, then in Morocco, Mexico, and finally Colombia, where he engaged hand spinners and weavers for years to create the Doria range of textiles. The organic variations in color and texture inherent in hand-spun yarns provided a much-needed counterpoint to the featureless surfaces dominating the interior—drywall and glass.
Given their popularity and durability, the Doria fabrics became best-sellers among Larsen’s hand-spuns. In addition to the original Doria, several variations were developed, including Doria Plaid, Doria Squares, Doria Stripes, and Doria Herringbone. A custom version of Doria Square was commissioned for Air Force One in 1969.

Textile, Doria Squares, 1967; Designed by Larsen Design Studio (United States), Raquel Vivas Rincón (Colombian, 1902–1995); Produced by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated (United States); wool, acrylic latex backing; H x W: 147.6 × 101.9 cm (58 1/8 × 40 1/8 in.) Repeat H: 25.4 cm (10 in.); Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve; 2016-32-9