WHY DO ORDINARY WHEN YOU CAN DO SPECIAL? THE COUPLE BEHIND LOULÉBASED SÖNMUN , EMILIE CAVACO AND MARCOS ALFARES , CREATE STUNNING INTERIOR DESIGN PIECES , FROM WALL ART TO TABLE ACCESSORIES , USING AN A N CI E NT TEC H N I Q U E A N D A TH O RO U G H LY M O D E R N A P P ROAC H MARCOS IS FROM Portimão and an independent artist (musician, singersongwriter) and Emilie, a production assistant and digital artist, is from Paris. The couple met when they were at university in the Algarve, where they studied journalism, arts and fashion, and for several years were visual merchandisers in Paris and Lisbon. It was while Marcos was looking for a hobby , wanting to get involved with a different artistic medium , that he discovered some videos and a number of articles on the internet explaining the tufting technique. The textures and the colours and the dynamic of the work involved in using a tufting gun both surprised and enthralled him and he could see, he says, infinite artistic possibilities. And that is how it all started. Marcos got into tufting, fell in love with it and invited Emilie to join the process with her illustrations. That enabled them to work together and by combining their different perspectives and points of view, they developed their own artistic voice. So what is tufting? Regarded as an early textile technique, it can be traced back to civilizations in Persia, Egypt, and China, and a system of inserting yarns into a base fabric (think carpets, and even early knitted garments). What was done entirely by hand centuries ago is now handled by a tufting gun, and that opens doors to experimentation and true creativity. “It s a craft that requires hours of practice,” says Marcos, “but once you control the tufting gun it can be really satisfying and pleasing. A piece of 50cmx70cm, for example, can take 12 hours from the tufting process to the textile glue application, and the trimming and finishing touches.” The largest commission the couple have produced so far is a blue palm tree, three and a half metres high, that sits proudly inside a wall niche at a hotel; the smallest pieces are charming little mug coasters of 10cm diameter. Commissions are, or course, a sign of recognition. “Having our work referenced and our art pieces displayed in public spaces and private homes around the globe has been our greatest dream,” says Emilie, proudly. “Mostly, people come to us with a simple idea that we can develop and infuse with our own style and vision. And of course we work with interior designers looking to achieve something unique for their clients.” The Algarve , its shapes, colours, nature, botanics , influence this creative pair s planning. Inspired by the region s traditions and cultural heritage, their works are at once homage and reinvention. Through wool, they evoke traditions, memories, and landscapes, bringing them into the contemporary context of textile art and interior design. “We brainstorm to develop new pieces for future collections but sometimes we just feel the urge to create something different, something for us,” says Marcos. Sönmun sells its products at Casa Mãe Hotel, Lagos; Domes Lake, Vilamoura; Coral, Comporta; Stilbude in Potsdam, Germany, but mainly online and through its website. Last year they took part in the Arte a Sul exhibition at Centro Porsche, Faro; Memórias Tecidas at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura and Domes Lake Vilamoura. And they plan to participate in more exhibitions this year, bringing their distinctive style to a wider audience. Their finished pieces from their collections range from EUR100 to EUR1,200, while special orders for bespoke works depend on the individual design, size and detail. Every design is individual. Most of the yarns Marcos and Emilie use come from local shops or from New Zealand. Depending on the demands on a particular project, the choice is acrylic yarn or sheep wool HAVE A GO Fascinated? Marcos and Emile are running workshops so you, too, can learn the tufting techniques. Beginners will have the opportunity to create their own tufting project from a drawing, to the handling of the tufting gun. The rest of the process will be done by Sönmun and the fni ished tufted piece will be ready to pick up in 48 hours. The four-hour session for a maximum of three people includes materials, and is EUR150 per person. Inspired by Algarve traditions and the region s cultural heritage, Sönmun s works are at once homage and reinvention. Through wool, they evoke traditions, memories, and landscapes, bringing them into the contemporary context of textile art and interior design. When Marcos fri st discovered tufting in videos and articles found on the internet, he was curious, and then captivated. Learning to use a tufting gun was the start of the process ELAINE JOYCE