AS THE SUN SET OVER CHARLESTON’S SKYLINE THIS PAST FALL, the rooftop of The Palmetto Hotel transformed into an exotic sanctuary. Interior designer Debby Gomulka unveiled her Marrakech textile collection to an intimate gathering of industry partners, vendors and potential collaborators during a magical evening that marked the culmination of a 15-year journey from a single preservation project to a full-fledged textile line.
The event wasn’t just about beautiful fabrics. It was about storytelling, heritage and the kind of patient craftsmanship that’s increasingly rare these days. As guests mingled among displays of richly patterned pillows and table linens, and models showcased pieces from an archived international fashion collection, they witnessed the intersection of Gomulka’s passions: historic preservation, regional craftsmanship and the deeply personal narratives that drive meaningful design.
Gomulka, founder of Provenance Lee Interiors, has always brought a unique perspective to the world of interior design. With 25 years of experience working in historic districts across the South, she’s built her career on understanding spaces and the stories that inhabit them. Her background, a degree in interior design with a minor in art history, plus early exposure to the fashion industry, provides the foundation for her approach. “My history is related to architecture, landscape and the history of a place,” Gomulka says. Growing up with a family home in the North Carolina mountains fostered her deep connection to the Carolinas. “The mountains and coastal areas connected to historic districts are in my DNA,” she says.
This connection to place influences every project she undertakes. Based in Charleston but working increasingly across the region, Gomulka has become known for her ability to translate her clients’ personal histories into tangible design elements. “I interview them to find out what describes their journey, and I peel it away one layer at a time,” she explains. “I use art, furnishings, architecture, paint color, window treatments and table settings to create the Provenance experience and interior spaces that recall their history and what they love.” For example, if a client has traveled, she’ll discover that in the interview process. As she walks through their house, she looks at their artifacts, accessories and objects, and gets curious. That’s when the stories come out.
The Marrakech collection’s origin story began with precisely this kind of listening. A well-traveled collector approached Gomulka with a small book titled Marrakech and a vision: She wanted certain rooms in her home to capture that exotic, richly layered aesthetic that defines Moroccan interiors. Gomulka connected with specialists across the country, including a source in Boston who works with plaster and marble walls, and an artist in Manhattan skilled in ancient European techniques.
But the project became transformative for Gomulka herself. The process of developing the Marrakech-inspired color palette and design scheme planted a seed. “Provenance means the beginning of something, so that textile came from my own design,” she says. She realized she wanted to create her own textile line, one that could bring similar stories to life for designers and homeowners everywhere.
The Marrakech collection draws deeply from Morocco’s rich textile heritage, where centuries of cultural exchange have created a distinctive visual language. Traditional Marrakech patterns are characterized by intricate geometric designs: repeating stars, hexagons and interlocking diamonds that speak to Islamic artistic traditions where geometric forms represent the infinite nature of creation. You’ll also find the famous tilework patterns translated into fabric, with their distinctive mosaic-like arrangements.
The color palette is equally evocative. Deep terra-cotta and burnt sienna recall the sunbaked clay walls of the medina. Rich indigo and cobalt mirror the vibrant blue doors and fountains scattered throughout the city. Saffron yellow and warm orange capture the glow of lantern light in the souks. These are punctuated by earthy neutrals, warm cream, soft taupe and sun-bleached white that ground the bolder hues.
Gomulka’s collection honors these traditions while making them accessible for contemporary interiors. “The colors are true to Marrakech culture,” she notes. Her 50 new designs span both geometric and abstract patterns, offering versatility while maintaining that distinctly Moroccan soul. The nine colorways ensure the collection works equally well in a Charleston historic home, a North Carolina mountain retreat or even spaces inspired by the similar coastal light of Greece.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Gomulka’s collection is where it’s made. Fifteen years ago, when she first conceived of creating her own textile line, she faced a choice familiar to many designers: license her designs to a large manufacturer or find another way. “I wanted to create it on my own, rather than licensing a big manufacturer as others do,” she explains. Her father offered prescient advice: “There are so many old, abandoned textile mills in the Carolinas. I bet you could find one.”
And she did. In South Carolina, Gomulka discovered the historic Baxter Mill. This partnership became central to her vision, providing both archival inspiration and a production home that aligned with her values. “My favorite part of a project is when the artisans can show off their craft,” Gomulka says. By choosing to manufacture locally, rather than offshore, she’s not only supporting traditional industries but also ensuring the kind of quality control and collaborative relationship that mass production rarely allows.
The Marrakech collection’s first release includes an array of home textiles designed with both beauty and sustainability in mind. Throw pillows are available in the standard 22-inch size, as well as custom dimensions and lumbar styles, each showcasing the collection’s patterns in sumptuous velvet. Table linens bring the collection to the dining room, transforming everyday meals into occasions. Scarves offer versatility, hinting at the designer’s background in fashion.
The range of patterns, from bold geometrics to more abstract designs, means pieces can work alone as statement elements or together in layered combinations, much like the eclectic, collected-over-time aesthetic of actual Moroccan homes. All of the designs can be seen on Gomulka’s Instagram feed, where the richness of the patterns and the versatility of the colorways are beautifully displayed.
For Gomulka, this collection represents more than beautiful patterns on quality fabric. It embodies her philosophy about what luxury truly means. “The definition of luxury is overused,” she observes. “The true definition is having an intimate experience with quality and time.” Her clients, typically busy professionals and active philanthropists, hire her to create experiences rather than simply decorated spaces. In an industry full of fast fashion and disposable décor, the Marrakech collection offers something different: textiles created through patient collaboration, manufactured with traditional techniques, inspired by genuine cultural appreciation and designed to become part of clients’ personal stories.
The collection will be available on Gomulka’s website in the first quarter of 2026, bringing a touch of Moroccan magic and Southern craftsmanship into homes across the country. *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
