Los Angeles-Based Designer Wolfum Brings a Collection with Beauty and Purpose

Our latest artist collaboration features striking patterns designed by artist Annabel Inganni, designer and founder of Wolfum, which she describes as a textile-driven home goods line, primarily focusing on wood products.

Wolfum sells coasters, rugs, backgammon boards and more, but this is their most recent foray into fashion. Annabel, who is based in Los Angeles, lost her house and home studio in the January wildfires. Today, each purchase from The Wolfum Collection directly supports her journey to rebuild, allowing you to wear exceptional design while making a meaningful impact.

Annabel recently sat down with us to discuss their brand and its dedication to sustainability, where her passion comes from, and our new ties.

ARTIST COLLABORATIONS

The Tie Bar: Could you introduce yourself and who you are and what you do?

Annabel Inganni: I am the founder and designer of Wolfum, which was launched in 2011. I have a background in apparel design for many years when I moved to Los Angeles, all self-taught. I had ended up falling into that world partially because I had a huge interest in fashion and design and textiles from birth, basically.

I launched a clothing line when I was 22 years old and we made a little name for ourselves, and I just realized that was the world I wanted to be in. And so I did that for about 10 years and then was looking for an exit strategy in the late aughts.

I had just gotten married to a furniture designer, and we wanted to make really cool things for a small home that would be aesthetically pleasing, but also durable and functional. So that’s when we launched Wolfum, and we kind of hit the ground running because of the unique process that we do where we use dye sublimation to print directly onto the wood material, so it really allowed a lot of freedom in terms of color and print process and experimentation.

And in the 14 years that we’ve been doing it, we’ve worked with pretty much every major retailer out there from the Guggenheim and the Met Museum to Bloomingdale’s, Anthropology, Target, Starbucks, you name it.

TTB: I saw on your website that part of your mission is “creating sustainable products that stand the test of time.” Why is that so important to you?

AI: I think lately there’s a lot of green washing and the truth in the matter is if you’re making product that is ultimately disposable, then you just contributing to the same issue even if it’s made ethically and responsibly if it’s not durable, if it’s not aesthetically pleasing, if it’s too trend-based, then it’s just kind of a loss and another item you’re just throwing into the world. If it’s just gonna fall apart in a year, what’s the point, you know? And also from an aesthetic point of view, having it be something that will withstand the test of time.

I certainly am influenced by fashion and trends and color palettes and what’s happening — I love that, that’s like my fricking secret sauce. I love high fashion and high design, but to bring it into a home and make it palatable, useful, and sustainable on that bigger level is important.

TTB: The designs for this collaborations have such vibrant colors and patterns, but are also tapping into these deep earth tones which are kind of neutral. Where do you find the inspiration for things like that?

AI: I think that I do have a kind of a chameleon sensibility in terms of seeing different perspectives and knowing that I always want something that’s going to be geometric or more minimal. And so it’s filling in these preconceived notions, but then modifying it so that it’s relevant with a little bit of a twist. It’s gonna be a polka dot with oddly shaped dots, or instead of doing a traditional colorway, let’s push it and put the green with the lavender.

It’s really just kind of what speaks to me, and it’s really inspired by what’s happening on the major runways. I look to so many contemporary resources, but then I also harp back to Marimekko and Alexander Girard and Herman Miller and these people that really defined what color can mean and always adding that kind of weird element where it’s not too perfect because perfect is stupid and doesn’t exist, so make it a little weird.

Not everybody wants to wear crazy patterns or be all bold and make a statement, but if you can have one little piece of your personality represented in one element, I think that’s really fun and that’s what being human and alive is all about, right?

TTB: When was the last time you had your designs on clothing, and what is it like to see that again?

AI: I think the last time I saw something on clothing would have been 2008, and that stuff was so cool to have and it was so experimental and that’s when I was working for a private label design studio. So, I was designing primarily for Urban Outfitters, but then I also launched a line of junior t-shirts for Macy’s.

But seeing it again now, it’s full circle. It’s crazy. It’s going to make me cry, because in the fires, not only did we lose our house, but I had my home studio and that’s where I did all my design work and that’s where all my books were and that’s where my archives were. So, especially after so much loss where I literally can’t get anything back, those items will never be remade, it’s really neat to have this as kind of my entryway to 2025.

TTB: The fires in LA have obviously affected you and the city of Los Angeles so much, and the proceeds of this collection are going directly towards your rebuilding efforts. What does that mean to you?

AI: Los Angeles, especially my little small town of Altadena, which is seven miles. It’s a small, special place. Obviously, I feel for the Palisades, as well, but it’s really unfathomable. I think we are just starting to process it. It’s a long road and I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think if there’s one place that can come back it’s Altadena. It’s a very strong, amazing community.

I’m just so pleased to be aligned with such an honorable, cool company and to meet such interesting, nice people and to see this product that I hope will go out and find lots of new homes.

Because that’s the most fun thing is when you see your stuff out in the wild and people take it and they’re like, “Yeah, I feel dope today.” I’ve got this tie on or these quirky little socks that’ll add a bunch of color that maybe someone will notice and maybe they won’t, but I know it, you know it and that’s like that secret sauce that makes everybody just light up.

We’re proud to introduce The Wolfum Collection — a collaboration that carries both beauty and purpose. Find Annabel’s signature vintage-meets-modern aesthetic to a limited collection of ties and dress socks here while supporting a great cause.

SHOP THE WOLFUM COLLECTION