Amelia’s Magazine | Tent London 2014: Textiles and Surface Design

Zoe Murphy
Yes yes it’s been 6 months since the 2014 edition of Tent London but straight after the show I became ridiculously busy with my 10th anniversary Kickstarter project, That Which We Do Not Understand. I have always wanted to share my finds properly, some of whom I have already profiled at length on this website, and I’m sure this little collection will offer some refreshing and exciting inspiration.

Zoe murphy cushions
From Mexico to Margate was inspired by Zoe Murphy’s summer travels, and is the perfect vehicle for her zingy colour ways. Used to great effect on these cacti fabric designs on cushions. Spot also the Snarfle ghost hand.

Seven Gauge Studios
I love the new geometric woven fabric designs by Seven Gauge Studios.

Room 39
This wonderful new bedding and cushion collection is by Room 39. Designer Petra was also very helpful on the subject of crowdfunding, having funded the fragment bedding range through this method herself.

Sian Elin
Sian Elin excels in the creation of upbeat geometric designs such as these wonderful duotone cushions.

Louise Wilkinson
Louise Wilkinson cushion
As always I adore the designs of Louise Wilkinson, whose new fabrics are a touch folkloric, a touch Scandinavian and a touch of chintz: lots of fruits, vegetables and strange little animals.

Louise Wilkinson hedgehog
I think this gold hedgehog wall decal is out of this world, but she only made them as one offs for Tent. Don’t you reckon they would sell like hot cakes?!

Lorna Syson
It was great to see new designs by Lorna Syson mixing up birds and geometric designs: I’ve since discovered her new Broom and Bee design, which is absolutely magic – check her website to see it.

Otago Design mat
We spent some time admiring coir circle mats made in Africa for Otago Design.

Sonya rugs
Amazing crazy cool bright rugs are by Sonya Winner.

Rose sharp jones
I adore the subtle crochet cushion designs of Rose Sharp Jones: one of a new wave of crafters bringing this traditional technique into the 21st century.

Occipinti
occipinti textiles
Embroidery hoops are a wonderful showcase for fabrics by Occipinti. Find out more about the designer in my recent interview.

Tracey Tubb
These very clever and original origami wall coverings are by Tracey Tubb.

Natalia Yanez
Natalia Yanez utilises a combination of crochet and local Chilean basketweave techniques in her beautiful and unusual structures. Very clever!

candid fabric
These fabulous tropical fruit fabrics are by Hannah Rampley for Candid Fabric – a new project to support emerging graduate textile designers.

Beldi rugs
Beldi rug vintage
I am just a little bit in love with vintage Moroccan Beldi Rugs. These rag rugs cost a fortune but are ever so glorious.

Parris Wakefield additions
Paris Wakefield Additions has released a stunning new fabric design. Since last September I have had the honour of working with Sarah Parris, who produced a beautiful print for my special That Which We Do Not Understand 10th anniversary gold leaf range, available here.

Fanny Shorter
Fanny Shorter skirt
As always I love tropical loveliness by Fanny Shorter, looking wonderful in a pencil skirt made with her fabric.

Kitty McCall
Last but not least, I am enthralled by the colourful abstract designs of Kitty McCall. This fabric looks like a surreal mountainscape.

Read about furniture, lighting and other odds and sods here! All of these images were first shared on my instagram feed.

Categories ,2014, ,Beldi Rugs, ,Broom and Bee, ,Candid Fabric, ,craft, ,crochet, ,Fanny Shorter, ,From Mexico to Margate, ,Hannah Rampley, ,instagram, ,Interior Design, ,Kitty McCall, ,Lorna Syson, ,Louise Wilkinson, ,Natalia Yanez, ,Occipinti, ,Otago Design, ,Paris Wakefield Additions, ,review, ,Room 39, ,Rose Sharp Jones, ,Sarah Parris, ,Seven Gauge Studios, ,Sian Elin, ,Snarfle, ,Sonya Winner, ,surface design, ,Tent London, ,textiles, ,That Which We Do Not Understand, ,Tracey Tubb, ,Truman Brewery, ,Zoe Murphy

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Amelia’s Magazine | Introducing Occipinti: ‘Wild England’ Floral Interiors Collection by Ashley McDow

Occipinti Moonflower Lilac Curtain
I discovered the maximalist floral designs of Ashley McDow at last year’s Tent London. Having trained in surface pattern at the University of Leeds, she gained experience in the industry before setting up on her own brand in 2013. Occipinti was Ashley’s Sicilian grandmother’s maiden name and means Painted Eyes.

Occipinti portrait
Why did you decide to launch Occipinti, and what is your design background? 
I started Occipinti in 2013 after gaining experience working for menswear brand Duchamp London and then an international textile mill in Mumbai, India, where I designed and supplied fabrics to brands including Harlequin, Christian Fischbacher and Robert Allan. I launched Occipinti because I wanted to provide my clients with luxury printed fabrics with a unique style. There is a demand from people who want distinctive homes and surroundings and Occipinti serves that by offering a traditional subject matter and style with a modern twist.

Occipinti Rushflower Cobalt Curtain
You are inspired by the traditional English countryside – how do you find the right imagery to create your designs and what kind of medium do you use to create the final prints?
Finding the right imagery to use in my designs takes a lot of trial and error. I like to sit outside and paint as many plants as possible. Places such as Kew Gardens are perfect. I tend to work with water colours and gouache because you can water down the colours and layer them up to create a fluid image with lots of texture. I then take them back to my studio in Walthamstow and play around with the layout, combining different elements from some or all of the paintings. The imagery that works the best, are plants with a natural flow to them, like wisteria or ivy. Wisteria is one of my most popular designs.

Occipinti Moonflower Lilac Wallpaper
What is your favourite type of plant or flower to work with and why?
I love working with clusters of colourful flowers. Colour is very important to me as I believe it generates cheerfulness. Yellow is my favourite colour hence why my Golden Bunting Bird design is my favourite and dominates the large wall in my livingroom! I also love plants with lots of varying shades as I can create lots of texture within my paintings. Technical advances within the textile industry, has lead to a lot of designs being produced straight onto the computer, which results in designs looking very flat. I wanted to avoid this flat appearance by created all of my designs with good old fashioned paint.

Occipinti Ceramics
You have recently launched a new ceramics collection, what kind of designs feature on this?
I took one of my original statement patterns from ‘The British Empire Collection’, The Golden Bunting Bird and reinterpreted it. I wanted to create a tasteful and stylish range of ceramics, which would bring design to the table without overpowering it. I am now hoping to add more designs to the range to create a mix and match set that will allow people to create their own unique dining set.

Occipinti Belleflower Curtain
Where can readers buy Occipinti products?
All my products are available online at www.occipinti.com as well as a select few interior shops across the country. My wisteria design is also available across the full sofa.com furniture range. You will find a list of stockists on my website.

Occipinti Painterly Wallpaper
What next for your brand?
I intend to show Occipinti at more international trade shows to gain further brand awareness. I want to help take the Best of British to the whole world. Design is one of the things we do best. I am also in the sampling stage for some new home ware products such as oven gloves, aprons and tea cosy’s. So watch out for those later this year.

Categories ,Ashley McDow, ,Bunting Bird Ceramics, ,Christian Fischbacher, ,Duchamp London, ,fabric, ,floral, ,Golden Bunting Bird, ,Harlequin, ,Interiors, ,Occipinti, ,Painted Eyes, ,Robert Allan, ,Tent London, ,textile, ,The British Empire Collection

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