Eliza Kesuma, founder of Moody Monday on creating joy, creativity in Edinburgh & the comeback of colour.

Moody Monday - a bespoke wallpaper and textiles brand based in Edinburgh - all started with "little sketches and poems on the wall, in Jakarta, Indonesia", where founder Eliza Kesuma was born.

Fast forward, and the printed textiles designer and maker, who specialises in meticulously crafted hand-printed wallpaper and fabrics, started her design studio and business in early 2011, after receiving her first wallpaper commission from a design-boutique in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh.

Following the widespread acclaim the work garnered through various exhibitions since, Moody Monday was formally established in 2014.

Mesmerised by Eliza's technicolour prints and patterns, and dedicated approach to sustainability, we caught up with the maker and founder to chat about creativity and business ownership in the post-pandemic landscape.

Firstly, can you please introduce us to Moody Monday?

"Moody Monday was started by myself, Eliza Kesuma; a printed textiles designer and maker. For those who know, Moody Monday has subsequently been recognised for cutting edge and subversive designs of luxury wallpaper and interior accessories, an exciting change from the norms of traditional florals, along with textile printed designs that combine strong geometric patterns and bold colours. We have also been running some printing and design courses in the studio.

"I started the design studio and business in early 2011, after receiving my first wallpaper commission from a design-boutique in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh. Following widespread acclaim for the work through various exhibitions since, I then established Moody Monday in 2014."

How did you get started in design?

"Professionally, I’d say when I started studying in art & design academia, so probably around 2001/ 2002. I would argue that it probably started even earlier in my youths, as early as the age of 5 or 6 when I already started vandalising my clothes, books, and bedroom walls."

What are your main sources of inspiration?

"It could be anything at any given time, as long as I find it interesting (for whatever reason). I find, like most things in my life, I am really inspired by subjects/objects that I have a strong emotional connection or objection with – I really need this source of inspiration to give me enough energy to sustain my interest in it until I conclude or complete the project. So, if it doesn’t incite passion, I will likely lose interest in it and it will never see the light of day, no matter how interesting other people think it can be."

Which materials do you work with?

"I predominantly work with textiles and wallpaper. During the development stage, I might play around with other mediums and materials, depending on the brief and the deadline I have for a given project. But it mainly translates itself onto fabric and wallpaper."

How big an impact does sustainability play in your work?

"It has a massive impact. Even before the entire world was concerned about climate change, sustainability has always been key to how I operate as a small business, i.e. minimising or avoiding waste entirely, making sure that all of the design and production decisions that were made are absolutely necessary.

"I am always questioning why things are done a certain way and if there are any other ways of improving processes and the materials sourced, where, how and why – always looking for ways to work leaner or cleaner. I think most small businesses have had to operate like this for many years in order for them to survive in the first place.

"We can’t afford to be frivolous in anything we do, so we’re not new to this sustainability concept. It’s only during recent times that we have had to talk more transparently and openly in public about it, because everybody’s more conscious about sustainability these days, which is a good thing."

Your work is bold and full of colour and pattern. Do you seek to evoke joy with your pieces?

"Yes, of course! What is the point in bringing something into your space, be it your home or place of work or any spaces you have to inhabit, if it doesn’t give you joy? You have so many senses in your body and they’re all very connected, you should tickle those senses with pleasure as much as you possibly can!

"Different people respond to different things of course. I personally think colours and patterns are very powerful in influencing your mood, your thinking, confidence and your wellbeing. So I share what gives me joy to others through my work."

How was your business affected by the pandemic?

"My business has met the same challenges other business have had to face, probably worse in some aspects seeing as it’s also the creative sector; a period of waiting and uncertainty, then a slow down in demand, also followed by increasing costs to materials and operating costs. It’s pretty depressing. But, I’m still here, surviving the best as I can with the business."

You’re based in Edinburgh - how is the creative scene there?

"It’s surviving, in spite of various threats of gentrification and general funding cuts across the board. Creativity always finds a way of surviving, anywhere. Just like the flow of water, it will disperse through a path of least resistance and move through its own course."

What’s the most interesting/unusual bespoke commission you’ve ever received?

"I was commissioned to create a wallpaper design that captures the buzzing creative community within and surrounding the location of this particular building (where the wallpaper was to be installed). It enabled me to explore so many different practices and the people that work in it, also the rich history of the area, which didn’t seem like it had very much with at first glance, until I started looking into it and exploring its visual history. It was very exciting and engages me so much to explore so many design trajectories within it."

What are the biggest colour/pattern trends we can expect to see in 2023?

"Yellows, oranges and blues have definitely made several reappearances in its various shade incarnations over the past 5-10 years, so I can’t see it going away very soon. Not sure what will be big in 2023 necessarily as I tend to do my own thing, but I’m definitely a big fan of teals and blues, purples, and yellows or any bold colours really (as you know from my work), so I’m pretty happy to see them stay for a bit longer in the mainstream. Maybe neon colours would make a bigger come back perhaps? I’ve noticed it slowly poking through already, but more of a fleeting visit. As I understand, some people can be a bit scared of colours. I would actually be quite excited to see it making a big comeback though.

"Abstract patterns seem to have some staying power over the past few years as well. So we’ll probably see more of that in its various incarnations!"

What are you currently working on?

"I am currently working on clearing my head and calendar to make way for some quiet period of developing new work in the following year. I’ve not had the chance to do that for several years now and seeing as the landscape is changing quite a bit, I think it’s a good time for me to try and finally do just that."

And what's next?

"I’m slowing down the teaching side of the business to I can go back to the never-ending mission to get some good quality self-reflection time - in order for me to clear some much-needed headspace for developing new work."