Hesperides Research, LLC, established in 2003 by Joan Morris and Michèle Ratté, is the business manifestation of their successful solution to an age-old puzzle: how to affix gold to textiles.
Joan and Michèle became re-acquainted in 1997 after a hiatus of twenty years. They had known one another previously at Dartmouth College. Their friendship and aesthetic common ground developed into a relationship of inquiry into ideas and concepts related to art and textiles. They shared an interest in discovering a way to permanently apply precious metals to flexible surfaces. Several years of co-experimentation culminated in 2001 with their invention of a unique process for printing gold (and other metals) on fabrics and leather.
Luxury: the gold-printed textiles are exquisite, retaining the full luster and richness of a gold metallic surface.
Intricacy: the printed patterns can be finely detailed.
Practicality: the gold-printed textiles are flexible, washable and dry-cleanable.
Versatility: the gold-printed textiles are suitable for a multitude of applications including, but not limited to, wallpaper, screens, curtains, pillows and lampshades, fashion fabrics, shoes, bags, jewelry, smart textiles...
Hesperides Research, LLC is currently exploring the licensing potential of its printing process and the glorious products that can be made using it, as well as assessing the viability of scaled-up production for commercial applications.
Joan and Michèle are collaborating on a series of large-scale monoprint artworks and one-of-a-kind bracelets.
