Emily Bedford Jewellery

Today we chat to Emily Bedford; another designer featured in We Make London's new book, Inspired:London

What is name and background behind your company? 

The company is Emily Bedford Jewellery. I have been designing and making jewellery and selling  direct to private customers and to shop, galleries, boutiques.

Where are you based? 

North London

How long have you been in business for?

Since 2005 part-time but now a full-time venture.

What do you love most about living in London? 

Diverse life going on around me. It is invigorating, exiting and inspiring and I am addicted to it.

Who or what inspires you? 

Going to the British museum and the V and A and being amazed by what humans have managed to create 1000 years ago. I am inspired in a more general sense by music which I am always listening to and dance which I love to do as much as making jewellery.

What advice would you give designers starting out? 

Combine a huge amount of confidence with a small amount of doubt. When you start out you are the only one who thinks it can work so you need to keep that thought and not waver but always question and ask if you could do better. Enjoy it, be pleased it is there and that you are doing it.

What is new for your company?  

Using clear quartz crystal which acts like a looking glass over miniature prints and the incorporation of semi-precious stones such as emeralds and rubies.

Ela Studio - Hand-printed accessories and homewares

Ela Studio is featured in Inspired:London, We Make London's new book. Today we find out about Ela Studio and plans for the future.

What is name and background behind your company?

Ela Studio is the space that I found to develop my creative practice. The name Ela is the last part of my name Gabriela.

Recently I launched my first collection of accessories and homewares designed by me and made in London.

Where are you based?

I am based in South East London, near Bermondsey Street area. Some days I work from home when I have to do admin stuff or when I am doing digital design. When I need space to do more hands on work I go to my husbands’ studio very close by.

How long have you been in business for?

One year ago I designed my first collection of scarves, cushions and wallpaper, which I started selling in design fairs, markets and online sites as well. Although I was a bit off the business as I was also doing a foundation in textile design which kept me really busy.

What do you love most about living in London?

The great inspiration I get everyday. I find an amazing creative flow all over the city. I get inspired by the people, the streets, events. I love the feeling of freedom that the city offers. In a single day you can travel thru many cultures and climates.

Living in London has given me the inspiration to start into textile designing. Before moving here I was in a totally different environment and never imagined that I was gonna be doing what I am doing right now. It is been an amazing creative journey and this city has awaken that side in me.

Who or what inspires you?

Architecture and design are both strong influences in my work. Fashion is also very inspiring and in a city like London you can find it anywhere.

I like the geometric forms that emerged in the 60´s. I admire brands such as Marimekko, the finish textile fabrics with bold and colorful patterns.

I love patterns and I like to experiment with varied media to create artwork that I can translate digitally. I think is important that the original work is hand made as it brings a different value to the digital prints. My first collection emerged from hand stamping which I worked digitally and then printed unto fabrics and wallpaper.

What advice would you give designers starting out?

To take time to develop their products into something that has a meaning for them as well as good quality. Invest in samples, try out different materials and suppliers, and have feedback from someone before launching, in order to offer something truly unique and very well made.

What is new for your company?

At the moment I am working on a new collection of scarves which I am willing to launch by the end of the year, at Christmas markets. I am in the process of developing new textile products such as bags and blouses for next year.

Also I would like to launch my own website and look more into wholesale retaliers.

De Anna Kiernan Jewellery

This evening, we discover more about Inspired:London featured designer, De Anna Kiernan Jewellery

What is the name and background behind your company?

At seventeen I had the opportunity to train with a prestigious jewellery company in Bermuda and began my jewellery apprenticeship. Here I trained under two exceptional jewellers, gaining invaluable technical skills.

Being young I wanted to travel and explore other areas of design, which led me to London a few years later where I studied at Central Saint Martins, completing an Architecture degree. I soon realized that jewellery was the area of design I wanted to be working in as I missed the very hands on nature of designing and making that jewellery allows. I then completed the Jewellery MA at The Cass where I was able to draw on both my technical skills in jewellery and the broad design perspective I gained studying at CSM, and it was during my MA that I developed my first independent collection. I then worked for a large jewellery brand where I was able to experience the commercial side of the industry. Shortly after this I decided I had the tools and skills in place to go out on my own and De Anna Kiernan Jewellery was formed!

Where are you based?

I work from my lovely Clerkenwell Studio at Craft Central in the heart of London’s jewellery quarter.

How long have you been in business for?

De Anna Kiernan Jewellery was established almost a year ago.

What do you love most about living in London?

I love that on any day of the week I can hop on a tube or bus and go to an exhibition or art gallery for inspiration. I also love just sitting at a café and taking it all in. London is such a fascinatingly diverse city to observe.

Who or what inspires you?

My work is greatly influenced by the geometries of modernist architecture and the natural contours of the female form and looking at how to harmoniously combine the two.

The begining of a new collection can come from a small detail in a building that intrigues me and then working out how I can relate this to the natural contours of the body is where it all begins. Its about finding that balance in contrast between the bold and the subtle and the geometric and the organic. The line and how the eye follows the line is key, so how a piece fits the body in a very specific way is important or how the play with angles and light creates a visual illusion.

What advice would you give designers starting out?

Get networking!

What is new for your company?

As an emerging brand this year has been packed full of new and exciting opportunities and experiences. The latest news was being selected as a 2012 KickStarter and having our first trade show at IJL, which was a great success.

Creating Trouble - Mosaic jewellery

Creating Trouble is featured in Inspired:London, We Make London's new book. Today we find out about creating Trouble and plans for the future.

What is name and background behind your company?

Creating Trouble came about mostly because I love creating things and found I had made more things than I would ever need or use! The inspiration for the name came about because someone at work used to say ‘Here comes Trouble’ every time they saw me, and I felt it worked with what I do – it seems to be quite an apt name as smashing up glass as a pastime does create a certain amount of trouble in our flat.

Where are you based? 

I’m from the south of England but I’ve been in London for nearly 8 years now, almost all of which have been based around the East End. I’m presently based in Hackney which I love.

How long have you been in business for?

Nearly 2 years now, although it’s only been this year that I have thought of Creating Trouble as a business. Before it was more of a hobby and pastime.

What do you love most about living in London?

I used to swear I would never live London because I disliked it so much. Now I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else! I love that there is always something new to discover or something to do – whether that is going for a cycle and finding sudden green spaces, discovering secret cocktail bars or just having the luxury of living close to most of my friends and being able to have an impromptu dinner or barbeque in the garden. I love how diverse and engaging London is – there really is something for everyone here.

Who or what inspires you?

I sometimes wonder this myself! A lot of my designs have a distinctly Art Deco feel to them, so I guess I would say that was a major source of my inspiration. But honestly I find inspiration in so many different things it is hard to pinpoint it. I love the works of Kandinsky, Rothko and Matisse. I love the architecture of St Paul’s and The Gherkin. And I love being out in the countryside and seeing what there is to see there as well, so I guess I would have to say: anything and everything is my inspiration!

What advice would you give designers starting out?

Keep at it! Believe in yourself and don’t expect it all to happen overnight. I consider myself to be a new designer and I am really still trying to find my feet – where my markets are, what I should be focusing my energies on, what I need to be doing in terms of marketing, accounts etc. It’s a huge undertaking to suddenly leave the security of what you’ve always known and jump into being a designer-maker. I’m still slightly daunted but I am loving the whole process. So believe in what you do, and go for it.

What is new for your company?

Everything! Creating Trouble is still in it’s early stages so at the moment I am focusing on the smaller mosaic projects. I have recently started adding rings into the jewellery collection and, at some point in the near future, I’m hoping to add earrings as well. I like how well the cufflinks I’ve recently added have been received so there will be more of those too.

Coral Turner Couture - Handmade fashion

We chat to Coral  about her business, Coral Turner Couture. Coral is one of the talented designers featured in We Make London's new book, Inspired:London.

What is name and background behind your company?

Name: Coral Turner

Business Name: Coral Turner Couture

Background: Predominately a self-taught fashion designer, a love for fine fabrics, the art of couture sewing to produce great fitting clothes, and statement pieces that creates their own identity/personality for the wearer, not easily defined or categorized is the ethos behind my company.

Where are you based?

South East London

How long have you been in business for?

I have been making private bespoke pieces for over 20 years for both men and women.  Tailored shirts for men and varying garments for ladies from silk dresses to tailored suits, I set up an on-line ready-to-wear couture boutique 2011.

What do you love most about living in London?

The variety of creative outlets, the opportunity of experience whether it be in a working environment or the people you meet, forever growing and evolving. 

Who or what inspires you?

My parents/family/partner are my inspiration, they have always encouraged me to go for what I believe in, never give up, be kind to others along the way, and take the path less trodden.

What advice would you give designers starting out?

Think for yourself, but don’t be so wrapped up in being right that you forget to listen and take advice.  If it’s encouraging embrace it, discouraging take it with a pinch of salt.  Above all believe in yourself, where your abilities are lacking take the time to learn more, always keep listening and learning.

What is new for your company?

The couture on-line boutique www.coralturner.co.uk under my label ‘Exclusive Originals’, which sells only one-of-a-kind, ready to wear women’s wear.  I have started out using jersey fabrics for the initial collection, but will later move onto woven fabrics such as silk and linens. One-of-a-kind is very important to me as I believe in dressing the individual.

Claire Bunyard - Textile Artist

Today,  we chat to Inspired:London featured designer, Claire Bunyard.

What is name and background behind your company?

My own name- Claire Bunyard. I started at 21 years old as a textile artist selling pieces in craft shops and galleries. I’ve always worked part time in other creative roles and it’s these experiences that keep me enthusiastic about craft.  I worked as PA to Dr Shirley Frost who owns designGAP, a Birmingham based company that helps to promote UK designer makers. She has always been exceptionally encouraging. After two years experience with her I decided to go to university to study Woven textiles. I went to Brighton and graduated in 2010. Gaining my degree has built my knowledge and confidence and helped me to further my career. I’ve dabbled in producing fashion and interior products. I’ve also worked with some wonderful designers including textile designer Margo Selby and wallpaper designer Tracy Kendall. My passion for art remains and I work from my studio creating textile art pieces. All pieces are hand made by me and I use my own handwoven fabrics as much as possible.

Where are you based?

I work between my home in east London in Leytonstone and my studio space in Bermondsey.

How long have you been in business for?

I started crafting and creating as a hobby in my spare time. I continued throughout university. After graduating I thought it was more important to get a full time job, but 2 years later I’m finding it easier than I thought to work part time and run my business part time. I realised that my own work was what I was truly passionate about and decided to give it a proper go.  Now I would say I’ve only officially been in business for 10 months, I feel very much like a fledgling artist.  In January I built up my website, got in touch with new galleries and planned new collections of work. Since then everything has been going wonderfully, which makes me think it must have been the right time.

What do you love most about living in London?

Everything in London is an inspiration.

Who or what inspires you?

People inspire me. Initially my pieces were portraits of friends or family. Then I started being inspired by characters, personalities and stories. Each piece tells a story. Recently I’ve been working on still life work, but still each piece is inspired by an individual. They tell a story about a person and a character, in that sense they almost become abstract, which I find a fascinating concept. I’m interested in the narrative quality of textiles.  I’m very interested in the nature of the materials and the meanings they convey. As an artist I want to create beautiful pieces. I’m happy for them to look purely decorative, but I like to think people read their own stories in what they see. I’m inspired by folktales, folk art and different cultures. Recently time spent abroad has inspired the way I do everything.

What advice would you give designers starting out?

Be true to your own ideas and don’t worry about what other people are doing. Be confident. Enjoying what you do is the most important thing. If it’s no fun then there’s no point. Take your time, enjoy the process of crafting, learning and the experiences that will come your way.  Also talk to everyone you meet, being open and friendly. Some amazing things have come to me from just chatting with people – I think business people call it networking!

What is new for your company?

I’m already preparing for Christmas! I have a new collection of pieces that are in the design stage at the moment. I design on paper first, deciding on size, colours, materials and have everything pre-planned before I start cutting up fabric. Two new pieces will be in an exhibition with Inkfolk in November / December, and then a couple of Christmas craft fairs. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year, so I want to get heavily involved.

Chocolate Creative - Handmade Homewares

Today we chat to chocolate creative; another designer featured in We Make London's new book, Inspired:London

What is name and background behind your company? 

The name is chocolate creative, I founded the brand after many years working as a graphic designer back in Spain and in London. I felt I wanted to do something more hands on and to do with textiles so I began to study textiles and printmaking, and after selling the first cushions collection to Mint, the homeware shop in London,  I realized this is what I wanted to do, so started to invest my time, energy and money on creating chocolate creative.

Where are you based?

 I am based in my studio at home, in South London and in Spain where my partner works most of the time on the wooden products.

How long have you been in business for? 

I opened the online shop in November 2008, together with the blog.

What do you love most about living in London? 

The amazing opportunities this city brings you every day. And how many exciting events, places, architecture, people and many more you can get to meet and see, I like the art, design and craft scene, and how much support and recognition there is toward what we do. The markets, junk shops, antiques, independent shops, coffee places, restaurants, and the multicultural aspect of  an ever changing mega city.

Who or what inspires you? 

Nature, vintage images and crafts, art, museums, antiques, art, and very driven, passionate and creative people.

What advice would you give designers starting out? 

Make sure this is the path you want to take, and once you have made the decision don’t’ stop until you get where you want to be, don’t hesitate, be prepared to work very hard and sacrifice your social life and money, but in return you will learn that it is all worth, once you start making a living out of what you love.

What is new for your company? 

Keep growing the awareness and profile of the brand and company, create new products, focus and increasing direct sells, organize a show per year where to showcase new collections and in between all of this, have fun and live life to the full!.