Margo Selby’s bold new collection for Habitat is filled with retro fun and joyous colour

It features bold, playful designs for accessories and so furnishings, inspired by both my archives and those at Habitat. The collection celebrates 60 years of Habitat but it also comes at a notable time for my own studio, which commemorated 20 years in 2023.

The collection draws from Habitat’s graphic, primary aesthetic of the 1970s and ’80s. When I visited the archive last year, I felt that the images and catalogues from these eras resonated with my ongoing fascination with typography and its potential in pattern design.

The collection also references fragments of hand-drawn geometric patterns, which I developed and combined with key elements of my own style. I show how patterns can be simplified in pure blocks of colour to create something joyful and uplifting.

The Sixty cushion design is one of my favourites. It incorporates the number 60 into the design which is a nod to Habitat’s anniversary, while keeping the overall effect abstract and playful.

Habitat was one of the first companies that I worked with when I started my business, with some of the designs enduring to this day. The company has been very generous with access to its archive and in sharing its expertise, especially when I was designing products that are less familiar to me, such as lighting.

Habitat has also been open to my interpretation of the brief, which has allowed the collection to feel part of both its design aesthetic and my own.

Colour has always been an instinctive thing for me. I am a maximalist with colour and using an abundance of it while designing and weaving can uplift the spirit. Putting colours together can bring joy as they resonate and create harmony.

Bringing in colourful accessories is a great way to instantly transform your space. Don’t be afraid to combine different colours and patterns. Choosing what you love without worrying too much about it matching will result in a colourful and characterful interior.

I’m working more and more on using textiles beyond the domestic space and have a particular interest in public art installations. Pattern and colour in this context creates a joyful experience for everyone.