There are some places so breathtaking you can’t help but share them. For Annalise Grimshaw, that place is her home state of Western Australia. BLKSWN, the home and fashion line she founded last year, weaves her dreamland into textiles that dress the body, bedroom, bathroom, and living room.
Grimshaw, a communications expert by trade, began to turn a longtime idea into the brand we know today during the slowdown of Covid. She named her new idea after Western Australia’s emblem: the black swan. Misty turquoise coasts and ombre fields of wildflowers most inspire the color palette of BLKSWN. In a world exhausted by fast fads, BLKSWN invites repose, crafting pieces designed to last a lifetime spent beachside or sitting outdoors under the Western sun.
As BLKSWN makes its way outside of its home corridor, we met with Grimshaw to talk all things nostalgia, and building a brand that she hopes to one day pass down to her biggest inspiration: her family.
You’ve mentioned that the name BLKSWN came to you during the pandemic, in the midst of early motherhood. How did you know that BLKSWN wasn’t just a pandemic idea but something worth building a company around?
BLKSWN wasn’t born during the pandemic; the idea had been quietly evolving inside me for years. I had always envisioned creating a textile and interiors brand whose collections flowed harmoniously from room to room, telling stories inspired by the otherworldly landscapes and natural wonders of my home state, Western Australia. As some people may not know, the black swan is our state emblem and sits proudly on the Western Australian flag, making the name feel deeply connected to the place that inspired the brand.
Becoming a mother during the pandemic gave me the space—and perhaps the courage—to reflect on what truly mattered. I found myself revisiting memories of my childhood: family road trips through remote parts of Australia, the vastness of the landscape, and the sense of wonder those experiences instilled in me. I realized those memories had shaped not only who I was, but also the kind of brand I wanted to build.
The pandemic didn’t create BLKSWN; it simply removed the distractions. In a moment when the world slowed down, I gained clarity around an idea that had been waiting patiently for its time. I knew it was worth building a company around because it wasn’t a trend or a reaction to the moment—it was a deeply personal vision. I believe people can instinctively tell the difference between something that is contrived and something that is authentic. In an increasingly digital world, and now in the age of A.I., authenticity has become even more valuable.
Every collection we create is rooted in a real place, a real memory, or a lived experience, and I think that’s what resonates most deeply with our customers. Ultimately, people are drawn to stories they can connect with—but they also appreciate exceptional design, craftsmanship, and products that bring beauty into their everyday lives.
You’ve cited Western Australia as a “dreamland” and a major inspiration. What parts of Australia have shaped the debut collection the most?
Absolutely. Western Australia is a dreamland in every sense of the word. It occupies almost a third of the Australian continent and stretches from the tropical north with sun-kissed beaches to the deep south, where some of the world’s tallest hardwood forests grow. Across that vast expanse exists an extraordinary diversity of color, texture, light, and landscape. In a single journey, you can move from rust-red earth and ancient gorges to turquoise coastlines, wildflower-covered plains, and towering forests shrouded in mist.
What inspires me most, however, is that the beauty of Western Australia extends far beyond its landscapes. It is woven through its history, its shipwrecks, its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, and the stories that have been told across this land for tens of thousands of years. There is a profound sense of mystery and wonder that exists there.
All BLKSWN collections draw heavily from those memories and experiences. You’ll see it reflected in the palette—the deep ochres, mineral blues, soft sands, and forest greens—as well as in the textures and patterns that echo weathered coastlines, native flora, and the movement of the natural world.
What I find so captivating about Western Australia is that much of it remains remarkably untouched. There is a rawness and authenticity to the landscape that feels increasingly rare. When designing the Kimberley collection, I wanted to capture not just how these places look, but how they feel: expansive, grounding, awe-inspiring, and deeply connected to nature. At its heart, BLKSWN is an invitation to bring a sense of that wonder into the home.
You started your career in media before coming back to the design world through renovating homes in Sydney. What did you learn from your previous lives that you brought to BLKSWN?
I’ve had a wonderfully non-linear career, and in many ways BLKSWN is the culmination of all those experiences. I originally studied communications, majoring in broadcasting, and had every intention of going on to design school. Instead, I took a detour and auditioned for the same performing arts academy that Hugh Jackman attended—and to my surprise, I got in. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
While I quickly realized life behind a microphone wasn’t for me, that experience taught me the power of storytelling, audience connection, and emotional resonance—skills that have become invaluable in building a brand. From there, I moved into the corporate world. I appreciated the structure, discipline, and commercial acumen that came with a traditional career, but I always felt a pull toward something more creative. That ultimately led me back to design through property renovation.
Renovating homes wasn’t entirely new territory. I grew up with wonderfully adventurous parents who spent their weekends buying old Federation homes, restoring them, and bringing them back to life. By the time I left home in my early 20s, I had moved more than 10 times. Looking back, I realize I was unknowingly developing an appreciation for architecture, interiors, craftsmanship, and the emotional impact that a well-designed home can have on the people who live within it.
The renovation projects in Sydney became my practical design education. They taught me how people actually live in their spaces, how materials age, how color behaves in different light, and how thoughtful design can transform the way we feel. When I look at BLKSWN today, I can see traces of every chapter. The storyteller from media, the discipline of the corporate world, and the lifelong fascination with homes and interiors all came together to create the brand.
“Quiet luxury” has dominated the design world for the past few years. BLKSWN is offering something totally different, with monograms, gold trims, and beautifully done statement pieces. Was this intentional from day one? What do you think the market is ready for now that it wasn’t for the past few years?
It was absolutely intentional, but not as a reaction to quiet luxury. From day one, BLKSWN was never conceived as a trend-led brand. We don’t begin the design process by asking what colors are forecasted for the season or what aesthetic is currently dominating the market. We begin with a place, a story, and a sense of wonder.
Our collections are inspired by landscapes, histories, and destinations that have captured our imagination. The role of the textile is to tell that story. Sometimes that may result in something understated and tonal, and other times it may call for rich color, intricate pattern, monograms, or decorative detailing. We allow the narrative to lead the design, rather than the other way around.
I think consumers today are becoming increasingly fatigued by trend cycles. After years of being told what is “in” and what is “out,” people are looking for pieces that feel personal, meaningful, and enduring. They want homes that reflect their own identity and experiences rather than a prescribed aesthetic.
What’s interesting is that true luxury has never really been about restraint or maximalism—it has always been about authenticity, craftsmanship, and confidence. For some people, that confidence is expressed through quiet simplicity. For others, it’s expressed through bold pattern, beautiful embellishment, and pieces that spark conversation.
At BLKSWN, we’re not interested in following trends. We’re storytellers. Our job is to translate the beauty, history, and emotion of a destination into textiles that allow people to bring that story into their homes. I believe the market is increasingly ready for brands that stand for something distinctive and genuine rather than simply reflecting the trend of the moment.
What does success look like for you in five years from now?
Seeing BLKSWN establish itself as a meaningful and respected voice within the global lifestyle and design space. More than anything, I hope people genuinely connect with what we’re creating and feel a sense of wonder, curiosity, and emotion when they encounter our collections.
One of the things I love most about BLKSWN is that the journey is never entirely predictable. Each collection begins with a destination, a story, or a piece of history, and from there it unfolds almost like a “choose your own adventure” story. The research process continually reveals unexpected narratives, textures, colors, and details that shape where we go next. It’s both creatively challenging and incredibly exciting because we’re not following a predetermined formula.
While the stories may change from collection to collection, there will always be a common thread running through the brand: a commitment to craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and the small details that elevate an object into something special. Whether that’s intricate embroidery, sculpted hems, bespoke trims, or unexpected finishing touches, those elements are part of the BLKSWN signature.
On a personal level, success is creating a brand that allows me to continue doing what I love for many years to come. If BLKSWN can become something enduring—something that outlives me and can one day be passed down to my children as a legacy built on creativity, curiosity, and authenticity—that would be the greatest measure of success.
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