Acclaimed commercial interiors leader Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering is thrilled to mark the twentieth anniversary of Vice President of Textile Design Shantel McGowan. McGowan’s creative vision has left an indelible mark, reimagining what commercial textiles can be through a mastery of color, texture and performance. As a key member of Momentum’s design team, McGowan has pushed the industry forward towards positive sustainability practices, and her passion for collaboration is evident through her award-winning collections with partners such as Sheila Hicks and Shantell Martin. With a passion for pioneering design, McGowan’s leadership and impact are set to continue making their marks as Momentum entered NeoCon 2023 with a fresh slate of textile collections.
Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering CEO, Paul Cleary remarks, “Shantel’s loyalty, leadership and fresh approach elevate our work as a brand on a daily basis. It has been a pleasure to learn from Shantel in my first year with the brand, and I am thrilled to celebrate this milestone with her and our dedicated colleagues.”
McGowan joined Momentum in 2003 as a textile designer, after having worked with the brand on the client side for eight years at a commercial mill. Rising in the ranks thanks to her keen eye for textile construction, she continuously worked to create a meaningful impact on the Momentum brand through design, material innovation and collaborative partnerships. Highlights from McGowan’s two decades with Momentum include spearheading collaborative lines with artists Shantell Martin and Sheila Hicks. A collaboration with Hicks, Crossing Colors, was even inducted into the Cooper Hewitt Museum’s permanent collection. Inspired by her meaningful interactions with the artists, McGowan was able to reset Momentum’s perspective on product development and compel the team to produce award-winning products with a “wow” factor.
“I am so proud of the company’s growth and the work we have accomplished as a dedicated, driven and creative team these past 20 years,” shares McGowan. “From external collaborations with award-winning artists, important material innovations like the launch and expansion of our PVC-free Silica collection to the travel-inspired LA on a Tank of Gas textile range which was equal parts fun and out of the box, these last two decades have been rewarding beyond measure. I look forward to the coming years with Momentum and continuing to be a part of this company – we have a great culture and exciting things on the horizon!”
Under McGowan’s leadership, Momentum has embraced the mission to refine and revolutionize contemporary market offerings, with sustainability at the forefront of its mission. Finding effective, sustainable solutions for materials is always top of mind when beginning the design process, which has been made possible through innovation. Through collections such as Silica, McGowan and Momentum continue to push the textile world to evolve and improve.
McGowan explains “During the design process, we always make sure to use the best materials that we can at the time. Sustainability is an ongoing journey— we try to make the best choices for today, knowing that we might make different choices tomorrow, given the potential new developments in the future. In this way, our thinking constantly has to evolve as we learn.”
McGowan’s leadership continues to be an invaluable resource to the growth of Momentum from both the creative and sustainable side of the brand. With McGowan at the helm of textile design at Momentum, the company is bound to continue creating stunning yet functional designs fit for commercial and hospitality settings for years to come.
About Momentum
Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering is the largest supplier of contract textiles and wallcoverings to the commercial interiors industry. Its mission is to create textiles and wallcoverings that inspire and equip customers to execute great work for their clients. Momentum is recognized for sustainable product design and collaborations with renowned artists and designers. Momentum is a recipient of the 2016 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence. Momentum is committed to sustainable excellence through innovation and continuous improvement.