The Print Affair are keen to support young people in the textile industry whether they be students or taking the first steps in their careers. We all remember what inspired us to join this crazy club, who encouraged us and the pride we had when our efforts were recognized. For this reason we always try to attend shows promoting new designers such as that the other week at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
Please see some of our top picks below and thank you to all the exhibitors, whether you feature or not over the next few weeks, for the amazing show that you all put on and thank-you.
Laura Cloughton
Printed Surface Designer, University of Huddersfield.
Laura typically works with digital print methods. Her graduate collection Botanical Opulence is a collection of Textile Designs for a high-end interior market inspired by the richness of nature. Bold and bright botanicals and an extra dimension of animal print, portrayed through mixed media and collage sit alongside hand painted textures placed over rich backgrounds that provide an illusion of depth and luxuriousness.
Lauracloughton9@live.co.uk @lauracloughtontextiles
Chloe Dacosta
Surface Pattern Design at University of Wales Trinity Saint David
With a strong use of abstract forms and textures, Chloe has created a contemporary body of work within an interior context. Most confident when designing digitally, the collection is entirely digitally printed to give it the modern feel that reflects Chloe’s design identity.
Her degree show collection is titled “Lost and Found” as it focuses on the narrative between botanical forms and the natural beauty and power of it. Throughout this collection the notion of nature is celebrated and is unapologetically allowed to grow freely and as naturally as possible.
T: 07956070402 Chloe_da_costa@hotmail.com @chloedacostadesigns
Saffron Sanderson
Textiles: ‘Innovation & Design’, Loughborough University
Inspired by glorious childhood memories of summers spent in her Grandparents’ garden, Saffron’s project ‘Blooming Impressionisms’ is a celebration of large-scale florals created using various experimental impressionistic print techniques.
The desire to showcase bold, vibrant and eye-catching colours within a floral thematic context which forms the genesis of this interiors collection. With a heavy nod to Scandinavian inspired simplicity – whilst portraying a clear sense of happiness and positivity.
Combining the painterly with mixed media techniques, this is a refined collection that concentrates on selected screen printed and digital output.
T: 07495768883 saffrones@icloud.com
Ellie-mae Barr
Textile Design, Falmouth University
These prints combine strong illustrative and graphic drawing styles to create designs that have an underlying meaning; inspired greatly by politics and issue-based news witnessed amongst Ellie-Mae’s travels. The final project was based upon Brexit and conveys Britain’s relationship with the EU and envisions what I believe the future may hold for the UK. Data and graphical information play an essential role within the prints to show accurate, un-biased information that can be communicated to all.
‘I have a future way of thinking that inspires new pop-art style prints. I have been greatly inspired by artists such as, Grayson Perry’s with his collection of tapestries called ‘Vanity of Small Differences’.
All images shown, are the intellectual property of the artists and may not be used or replicated but may be available direct from the artist.
As a group of bloggers working in the print industry we are very keen to hear from anyone who has something interesting to share with us in this field. You maybe print or fashion designers but we are looking to be creatively inspired so we invite photographers, painters, street artists and anyone who enjoys design and colour to come forward.
The Print Affair 