The story behind May 2025

This year’s May was first imagined by Primm in 1997, a design born from her enduring love of block prints. She often wandered through the pages of old books, drawn to the carved beauty of this ancient art form—searching, always, for something timeless.

My parents, ever the travelers, shared this eye for wonder. Wherever they went, they gathered the world in fragments—photographs of doorways and arches, of intricate tile work and luminous mosaics, of block prints etched with quiet elegance. These collected moments became part of Primm’s creative wellspring.

The original May was inked in shades of blue. This year, we’ve let it bloom in green—just a small shift in hue, a breath of something new, while the spirit of the design remains unchanged.

Block printing is one of the oldest methods of printing images and patterns onto fabric or paper. The process begins with an artisan carving a design into a block—traditionally made of wood, though stone or linoleum may also be used. This carved block becomes a kind of handmade stamp.

Once the design is complete, the surface is coated with ink or dye, then carefully pressed onto the chosen material. Each press transfers the image, and each print bears the subtle marks of the human hand—the slight variations, the quiet imperfections that make every piece unique.

This method has been practiced for centuries in cultures around the world, from the textiles of India and China to the decorative papers of Japan and Europe. It celebrates patience, craftsmanship, and the beauty of repetition—where each print carries with it a sense of rhythm, tradition, and artistry.