We met Bethan Laura Wood at the CC tapis’ exhibition “Rave Rave Rave!” during Milan Design Week 2018.

What are you showing at Rave Rave Rave?
For CC-tapis we’re presenting this collection called Super Fake, and it’s a series of super-hype rocks and all the layers within the rocks made from all the different knotting techniques from the artisans. It really worked with mixes of yarns that emulate the different surfaces and layers that build up the rocks. It was really exciting to see the way that artisans built up the pixelations of the knots, trying to emulate certain textures. That’s something that I really like about the collection, that is strongly influenced by all the knowledge in their hands.

Are you a raver?
In my past I may have been known to take part in discos, not so much raves…

What is your relationship with colour?
I kind of like colour. For me colour is one of the foundamental ways I digest the environment around me, in the same way that there are people haivng an amazing sense of smell, and they can detect so many different notes. I find colour a strong way that allows me to understand an environment, and I like the levelling of color, something that the vast majority of people have an association with. We all have memories of certain colours, from certain periods of life. That’s something that can translate well between different people and different cultures, with certain groups of colours that signify things. I’m really interested in that.

And your relationship with Mexico?
Mexico City is one of the cities I really enjoyed visiting in the last years. One of the main reasons I have such a strong reaction to Mexico is that is so different from London, for example, which is the city I’m predominantly based and has more of grey tones and some pops of colour. When I went to Mexico there was a whole different set up, it’s like the opposite way around. That’s what I like when travelling for work, having chances to perceive colour identities of places, and making stories in reference to them.

What about Milano?
I still have a very filtered view of Milano, since I normally come here when I have a meeting, in a building, or I come here for Salone, where I’m mainly focused on seing the works. I suppose I haven’t had much opportunities to walk Milan as a city for itself. In Italy in general, I always look to the nice metal work on the doors and windows, and I like the finesse of this. In Milano, in some of the buildings you have a big mix of very chuncky and very fine. I’ve been coming to Milan for many years, and there’s a lot in here to love.

Three tips to survive Salone?
Have some paracetamol in your handbag; after three Negronis at Bar Basso stop; put your phone down and look up, don’t live in the phone and look at stuff!