"Tree of Life" Fabric Celebrates 100 Years

By Jill Brooke

As Lee Jofa celebrates its 200th anniversary as a leading global manufacturer of fabrics and wallpapers, it invites a stroll down memory lane.

All the classic patterns. The geometric shapes. The vibrant spectrum of colors.

The luxurious textures cherished by interior design legends such as Constance Spry and Dorothy D،r to contemporary icons like Kelly Wearstler and Kit Kemp,

Of course, some designs were fleeting trends and have fallen out of favor. Yet, there are fabrics that carry deep stories behind them. Designs that endure. And endure. For over a century.

One notable example is a fabric named “The Tree of Life,” featuring a motif of birds, flowers, and swirling vitality.

What lies woven into the fibers of this “Tree of Life” fabric that has allowed it to withstand the test of time? What makes it special and keep it adorning armchairs, sofas, and chairs, decade after decade?

“It tells a wonderful story,” shares Lee Jofa’s creative director Stephen Elrod. “It resonates with the continuity of life. The design is bold, graphic, and full of color. Plus, it is hand-blocked.”

Recently unveiled during a collaboration event at MarieBelle chocolate shop in downtown Manhattan, the “Tree of Life” is now being transformed into wallpaper along with two fresh color palettes—an unprecedented move in 100 years.

Additionally, MarieBelle, the boutique chocolatier famed for imprinting images onto chocolate creations, has launched a chocolate bar inspired by the fabric design, now available for purchase.

Alana Moskowitz, VP of Communications for Kravet/Lee Jofa/Brunschwig & Fils | Donghia, also announced that at the upcoming Flower Magazine Baton Rouge Showhouse, designer James Farmer will feature the wallpaper in one of the rooms this November.

While Farmer’s project may mark the debut of “Tree of Life” as wallpaper, its design origins boast a rich heritage and pedigree. In a culture where so much disappears in moments, this one fabric design has touched millions over the past century and now stands poised to enchant millions more.

Jill Brooke is a former CNN correspondent, Post columnist, and editor-in-chief of Avenue and Travel Savvy magazines. She is an author, editorial director of FPD, and contributor to Florists Review magazine.