Brothers Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey’s children’s story comes to life in an exclusive collection of baby and kids bedding, décor, and more.
Brooklyn, NY – September 13, 2021 – Today, global design company West Elm debuts its first collaboration for West Elm Kids interpreting children’s book The Old Truck, authored and illustrated by brothers Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey. The Pumphrey brothers join West Elm’s roster of artists and collaborators as the first authors to debut an exclusive collection for West Elm Kids. The limited-edition collection includes 13 baby and kid-friendly pieces that draw from The Old Truck book’s block-print illustrations. Priced starting at $14.50, the collection features brightly colored prints and patterns on quilts, pillows, rugs, wallpaper, and home accessories. The Old Truck x West Elm Kids collection is available beginning today at www.WestElm.com/TheOldTruck.
The Old Truck tells the story of family, farm life, hard work, and persistence, through the lens of a young Black girl’s imagination. The Pumphrey brothers drew inspiration for The Old Truck from the iconic image of old, aging trucks sitting in the fields of central Texas farms.
“It’s exciting to see our hard work and persistence, key values of the story itself, pay off in the form of this new collection,” says Jerome. “To be able to share these values with a new generation of kids through the story of The Old Truck is an honor.”
“And to know that they might be sitting on The Old Truck Play Rug or wrapped up in an Old Truck quilt while listening to the story really brings it full circle,” Jarrett says.
The brother’s 250+ hand-drawn and hand-cut stamps served as inspiration for the West Elm in-house design team who interpreted The Old Truck’s central theme and iconography into a modern and playful collection. The gender-neutral assortment for nurseries, kids’ rooms, and playrooms features sustainably sourced bedding and BCI cotton textiles. The Modern Patchwork Quilt ($169 - $199,) available in Full/Queen and Twin sizes, marries classic patchwork with contemporary patterns, giving a twist to a timeless staple. The handwoven Quilt Tapestry ($88.69), made of Fair Trade wool and 100% BCI/Organic cotton, provides a unique decoration for any child’s wall with a spectrum of subtle, pastel hues. Favorite illustrations from the book are recreated in the hand-felted and stitched Sun Pillow ($39.99) and lamp in the shape of an old truck ($179). The collection is complete with an exclusive stamp set ($24.35), allowing for children to recreate the brother’s illustrations all on their own.
For their debut picture book, the brothers created over 250 handmade stamps for its block-print illustrations. Each kraft-foam stamp was hand-drawn and cut by hand with an Exacto-knife. After being stamped in black and white, each page was scanned into the computer and then put together in a digital composition with full color.
To learn more about The Old Truck x West Elm collection and how together with the West Elm design team the Pumphrey brothers brought their creations to life, please visit www.Press.WestElm.com/TheOldTruck. To view the full collection in West Elm’s look book, visit the West Elm press room at www.press.westelm.com/lookbook/theoldtruck.
