Studio Shamshiri x ABASK: The Origin Story

Tom Chapman and Pamela Shamshiri delve into the details behind the collaborative collection where a portion of proceeds from every item sold will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières

A chance visit to Irene Neuwirth’s New York jewellery boutique led ABASK co-founder Tom Chapman to a meeting with its interior designer, the LA-based AD100 favourite Pamela Shamshiri. The pair’s fate as future collaborators was sealed over a meeting-of-minds breakfast at the Beverley Hills Hotel, and after working closely together on interior-design projects, the idea for the Studio Shamshiri x ABASK collection was born. Here, the pair share their creative criteria for the collaboration that drops exclusively on ABASK.com this month.

Filling the Gap

Tom Chapman:

“When designing our family home in LA with Pam, my wife Ruth and I were struggling to find fantastic blankets for the beds. It was easy to find throws, but nothing that was sumptuous and spoke to the intimacy of the space. I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Himalayan artisans who create luxurious cashmere blankets for the world’s best-known brands. The idea to combine Pam’s expertise in masterminding interior spaces and the skills of the manufacturer to create a collection of our own was a natural one as I knew with Pam’s sensitivity, sense of joy, and exquisite colour palette we could create something incredibly special for ABASK”

Giving Back

Studio Shamshiri and ABASK are proud to support Médecins Sans Frontières in bringing life-saving medical care to people in need by donating a portion of proceeds from every item sold in the collection, ranging from $20 for the eye mask to $750 for the blanket.

“MSF UK is incredibly excited to embark on this partnership with Studio Shamshiri and ABASK. The support that this partnership promises to bring will allow us to provide free medical treatment to populations in distress across the world. We are very grateful to all those that wish to support our work. Together we really can make a positive impact on the lives of so many.” - Denise Horrocks, Head of Philanthropy at MSF UK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket -  - ABASK -

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion

$1,170
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion

$1,170

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Bold-Stripe Blanket

$2,925 - $7,075
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Bold-Stripe Blanket -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Bold-Stripe Blanket

$2,925 - $7,075
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle

$350
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle -  - ABASK -

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle

$350
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask

$200
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask -  - ABASK -

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask

$200
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle

$350
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Hot Water Bottle

$350
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket

$5,855 - $6,830
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket

$5,855 - $6,830
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion

$1,170
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion -  - ABASK -

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Large Lumbar Cushion

$1,170

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Double-Faced Blanket

$4,820 - $5,915
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask

$200
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask -  - ABASK -

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere and Silk Eye Mask

$200
Shop the Collection

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket

$2,685 - $6,830
Studio Shamshiri x ABASK - Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket -  - ABASK

Studio Shamshiri x ABASK Handwoven Cashmere Irregular-Border Blanket

$2,685 - $6,830
Shop the Collection

The Pam Shamshiri Palette

Pamela Shamshiri:

“We knew from the start that we wanted classic colours that everyone would respond to and then a few surprises. It was a challenge to achieve the colours as they were made exclusively for us and the patterns and stripes are like a collage of sorts, so there was a lot of refining, but we achieved it. You just can't find anything with this combination of colours so it’s very unique and special. It was also important that the intensity of the colours was the same on both sides of the double-faced blankets so that they could be turned over depending on the season to bring a different mood to the space or be folded so to provide an accent”

Tom Chapman:

“We have created something really new here which was very exciting to work with our makers in the Himalayas on; we both challenged ourselves and encouraged the maker to push his skillset to bring the finished blankets and cushions to fruition”

The Small(s) Details

Tom Chapman: “For me, it’s always the details and the things that you surround yourself with that create a sense of place and connect you to your life, your memories, and your travels. Those are the things people really pick up on when they enter your home and create an intangible sense of ease. The most important objects are not about their value, but their sense of meaning which these beautifully designed and handcrafted blankets so effortlessly achieve”

Pamela Shamshiri: “It's all about bringing a sense of history to your home. Building a curated collection and layering objects is when you can feel emotion in a space and that’s when it gets really interesting”

Tom Chapman: “The quality of the make was fundamental to the collaboration for both Pam and me. It is the most important thing as there's no point in doing something if it's not the finest and the best quality” 

"I knew with Pam’s sensitivity, sense of joy, and exquisite colour palette we could create something incredibly special for ABASK"

Tom Chapman

Tap to shop

A Sense of Serenity

Pamela Shamshiri:

“I'm hoping that the colours are soothing and calming and that we have an option for every environment. I was really specific about the size of each piece being large and having the satin and suede edges. I always want things to bring rest and peace and calm and think the collection is invigorating and exciting but at the same time will bring serenity to the bedrooms and spaces that they're in”

Tom Chapman:

“Pam always makes you feel at ease and comfortable. The sense of pleasure and joy that working with Pam brought into our lives was enormous and we share the fundamental belief that a home should reflect its surroundings, never be cookie cutter, and always be somewhere that you look forward to spending time in filled with the most exquisite home-design objects”