Alexandra Tolstoy - Bespoke Throw

Alexandra Tolstoy is an Anglo-Russian adventurer, author, broadcaster, and mother, whose life and work has been shaped by an enduring passion for horses and exploration. From riding thousands of miles along the ancient Silk Road and across the vast landscapes of Mongolia and Siberia, to presenting the BBC series Horse People with Alexandra Tolstoy, her adventures always celebrate both the beauty of travel and the cultures she encounters along the way.

Alongside her expeditions, Alexandra leads adventurous riding holidays in Kyrgyzstan, where guests experience the dramatic landscapes of Central Asia from horseback, much as she has done throughout her career. She has also curated The Tolstoy Edit, a curated selection of her favourite design finds, celebrating folk traditions and craftsmanship.

In keeping with her love of travel, tradition, and modern living, Alexandra approached Wallace Sewell to design and produce a contemporary blanket inspired by traditional Kyrgyz motifs and colours. The design team were excited by the challenge and the opportunity to explore a very graphic way of working. Intended to accompany riders on their Kyrgyz adventures, the bespoke blanket blends heritage and function, bringing together Alexandra’s equestrian journeys with Wallace Sewell’s passion for dynamic textiles.

Although the motifs in the blanket were deceptively simple, the sweeping curved lines would have been impossible to achieve on a standard loom. To bring the design to life, the studio used Jacquard weaving, a technique that allowed each warp thread to be controlled individually. On a simple loom, patterns were usually limited to straight edges, stripes, bands, or checks because threads were lifted in groups. Jacquard weaving, however, gave the precision to create intricate shapes, motifs, and textures directly in the fabric.