Student and Graduates: Be Featured

Calling all third years of fashion and textiles!

It's that time of year. You're Easter Break was barely even a break and you probably ate so many chocolate eggs just for the sugar to keep you going on those long all-nighters. You're not really sleeping so well (when you do get to go to bed!) because you're constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, when the next deadline is, when will it be too late to start ordering fabrics, etc etc.

I know! I've been there. It's stressful, it's painful, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it also makes you fat. But don't worry! It'll all be over soon, and you'll see your work at your graduate exhibition, or at New Designers, or Tent. You'll stand back and feel so proud because you did all that work.

At the end of it all, when you've got time to calm down, then I'll be here awaiting your request for a Graduate Profile! You need to get your workout there. The more websites you're on the better.

I'm here to showcase your talents to the world. I am so excited to see what amazing prints/garments/products have come out of the creative minds of young designers.

Please take a look at some of last years Graduate Profiles by clicking here and scrolling down until you hit around September/July.


If you would like to be featured on this blog, please contact Kate at klynch@hotmail.co.uk.

Time to introduce you...

I've been deliberating whether to plug my new business on my blog or not, as it may seem a little self indulgent, however I've come to the conclusion that I just want to share my story and show my designs that I love and care about so much to the rest of the world.

So last month, I started up my digitally printed scarf business: miel / b. It all came about as I came across some of my Grandads old things he had collected over the years such as old books, matchbox cards, postcards and other little titbits. They had that raw, beautiful vintage aura to them and I was immediately inspired.

At the time I was unemployed, just out of University, and needed something to do, so I set out to design a collection of scarves. I ended up with my 'Nostalgia' collection: 4 scarves each with a very nostalgic theme to it. There's King George, Rations, Household Tips and Postcards.

It never even occured to me to sell them at first, I just thought I might print one for myself! But as time went on, I started thinking a lot more about starting up a business with my designs and so, I decided to start research and find out prices of printing, websites etc.

Five months down the line, and a small amount of savings later, I decided to finally launch miel / b.

I made a conscious decision to make sure that everything about the business was made or sourced from the UK. I was inspired after watching Mary Portas' The Bottom Line and figured it would also be a fantastic selling point. All the scarves are designed (obviously), printed and finished in the UK and all other products used eg gift boxes and custom stamps are sourced from UK companies too.

As well as selling my designs as scarves, I also have a custom design service so if anybody wanted something very particular on a scarf for themselves or a loved one, I can do that for them.

I am so happy with how everything has turned out, and I've had so much support from everyone I know.

Please take a look at my website to see my vintage inspired scarves, follow me on twitter and like me on facebook.

Fashion and Textiles Graduates - Be Featured

Calling all third years of fashion and textiles!

It's that time of year. You're Easter Break was barely even a break and you probably ate so many chocolate eggs just for the sugar to keep you going on those long all-nighters. You're not really sleeping so well (when you do get to go to bed!) because you're constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, when the next deadline is, when will it be too late to start ordering fabrics, etc etc.

I know! I've been there. It's stressful, it's painful, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it also makes you fat. But don't worry! It'll all be over soon, and you'll see your work at your graduate exhibition, or at New Designers, or Tent. You'll stand back and feel so proud because you did all that work.

At the end of it all, when you've got time to calm down, then I'll be here awaiting your request for a Graduate Profile! You need to get your work out there. The more websites you're on the better.

I'm here to showcase your talents to the world. I am so excited to see what amazing prints/garments/products have come out of the creative minds of young designers.

Please take a look at some of last years Graduate Profiles by clicking here and scrolling down until you hit around September/July.


If you would like to be featured on this blog, please contact Kate at klynch@hotmail.co.uk.

H&M Conscious Collection: Don't let fashion go to waste.

Everyone in the entire textiles and fashion industry, in fact, just everyone should be giving H&M a huge round of applause, pat on the back and a triumphant trophy lift in the air.

Why? Because for one: they have set up their 'Conscious' collection which is using organic fabrics and using sustainable procedures in making their products and two: they are now collecting bags of used clothes (whether fit to wear or not) and are either re-using the clothes to help charities etc or recycling all unwearable fabrics to create new life for the fabrics.

Why has no company done this before? And why are H&M the only ones doing it?

I personally think this is amazing. Not only is the company putting the ethics back into fashion (don't get me started on sweater shops and fur coats), but they are making incredible sales too. Great move, H&M.

Just because it was so amazing and inspiring to read, below I have the H&M 'Conscious Actions Highlights 2012'. Please read it, it made me smile so much to know that a huge market leader in the fashion and textiles industry actually gave a damn about making the world a better place to live it! Hallelujah!

Coggles Wallpapers

I was introduced to the Coggles website last night by a friend and was amazed by some of the truly amazing things they have in the 'Home' section. 

Of course, I was instantly drawn to the wallpaper section and fell in love with three designs in particular. 

Number One: 'Carpe Noctem' by Barnaby Gates
"The lime green and gold wallpaper is a contemporary take on classic British heraldry and features soft metallic crests on a bold pinstripe background. Translation of the Latin mottos featured on the crests are; ‘Carpe Noctem’ – ‘seize the night’, ‘Floreat Domus’ – ‘may this house flourish’ and ‘Bovina Sancta’ – ‘holy cow!’ "

Number Two: 'This Other Eden' by Barnaby Gates

"The sepia wallpaper is made up of a collage of nostalgic British scenes, including war time imagery and classic country pursuits, all taken from original 19th and 20th Century sepia photographs. The wallpaper also features a vintage metallic gold finish."

Number Three: 'Ostrich' by Beware The Moon

"The brownstone wallpaper, symbolising denial, is an inventive twist on the traditional and features large hand drawn, gold leaf ostriches with buried heads."

Floral Friday: H&M Home

I was having a browse on one of my favourited interior magazine websites when I came across an image of a beautiful floral pair of curtains.
As I went to look to see where they were from I was so surprised to see H&M! I had absolutely no idea H&M even had a home department, never mind that they did fabulous ready made curtains!

The print is beautiful. Bold and bright, but cute and girly at the same time. If only I had a spare little room that I could make my snug, I would use this print everywhere. It's available in cushion covers and bedsets, so there would be no reason not to! Other than the fact it might look a little bit OTT...

So here you are, I introduce you to my Floral Friday: H&M Home.

Farrow & Ball Moodboards

Working at Farrow & Ball is great: I learn more and more about interior design and the beautiful pleasures that finding great colourways can bring every day.

This week, I created my own little project to make some moodboards using some fabric samples from a local fabric shop named Fabric & Co and finding different colourways and combinations with Farrow & Ball paint and wallpaper.

I had incredible fun making them, it really took me back to my college days where making moodboards was a daily occurence! Then they seemed like a hassle.. now I love them!

I thought I'd share my moodboards with you, so here you are:

New online portfolio with brushd

Just thought I'd quickly mention I've just set up my new online portfolio with brushd. 

If you'd like to have a look at some of my work, please visit it here: http://katelynch.brushd.com/

BetaFasion: Epic Journey Project

Brief: Many of life's most vivid memories and powerful day dreams often come from travels we've been on, or the journey's we've had, or wish to have. Exciting destinations, adventures along the way, once in a life time experiences, culture shock, childhood nostalgia, or just escaping the day to day, there are so many ways that travel can play an important part in our lives. For this project we want you to encapsulate these ideas, whether real or fantasy, for use on our range of square scarves.

Prize: 4 winners will be selected, each receiving £300 and seeing their design go onto be sold in our online store, Topshop and more.

My Design:

My Inspiration: A new and accurate map of the world. An old treasure of my Grandma's that I saved from going to a carboot sale was an old map of the world on a mirror.It's been in my room ever since, joining my general theme of 'around the world'.

Please rate my design here: https://www.betafashion.com/competitionratedesign.aspx?SubmissionID=6961

Clarke & Clarke Wallpaper

I was working the other day when a lady came in to choose some paint colours for a wallpaper she was considering purchasing. 

She brought in a Clarke & Clarke wallpaper book and I couldn't help but look through it with her! They were such beautiful designs, I felt like I had to blog about them.

The book I was looking at was the Clarisse collection, including other designs such as Delphine, Helena and Topiary.

I've included a few images for you to have a look at and admire. Enjoy :) 

Floral Friday: Kathryn Pledger

A long awaited Floral Friday has arrived as I introduce you to Kathryn Pledger.

Kathryn is a Graphic designer with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Communication. She has worked in Design Studios in Sydney, Dublin and London. Originally from Australia she is now based in London and pursuing her recent rediscovered love of surface pattern design, and freelancing in graphic design. 

"Creating surface pattern designs is a new and exciting venture for me. I have recently graduated from the online course The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design, and I am developing my portfolio and style."

Kathryn's ditsy florals are cute, beautiful and up-lifting. A great juxtaposition of using lovely light, refreshing colours, to dark and moody paintily designs. 

Kathryn talks about her inspiration for her florals:

"Having only recently followed my pent up desire to create patterns florals, it seems to be what my creative streak wants to make. I find inspiration in all the wonderful public gardens London has. One of my favourites is Myatt's Fields Park in Camberwell, it has really beautiful and colourful planting and all the patterns you see (apart from the yellow ditzy print) are directly inspired from that garden over the course of a few month. The yellow ditzy print has a special place in my heart; its the first pattern I made since I was a teenager and its based on flowers I saw on my honeymoon."

Visit Kathryn's website here and follow her on Twitter @KathrynPledger.

Feeling loved up today?

Take your lovey dovey feelings and get designing: Tigerprint will launch their 'Lovely Days' competition this Monday.

Floral Friday: Rosie Simons

This weeks Floral Friday is Rosie Simons, a University of the Arts London graduate. Despite having a degree in Graphic Design, Rosie warmed towards surface design and has created some really gorgeous prints. 

When I first saw her designs, I immediately thought how cute they were! Sweet, ditsy florals with bright and bold colour ways. 

Rosie talks me through her design career and her plans for the future:

"I am a graphic and surface designer naturally inspired by things around me, from day to day items to nature. I automatically visualise how imagery and objects will translate into designs, motifs and patterns. Graphic and surface design have always run parallel in my interests and I have developed my style to incorporate both these passions, a simple and clean but colourful aesthetic; combining simple graphic illustrations and typography. My passions lie in making something eye catching, whether that be a great logo for a company or a surface design used on products from wrapping paper, to clothing and homeware.

I am a keen and proactive designer, I love to go out and find new inspiration, taking photos of flowers, forms, shapes, textures and typography, reading blogs, collecting printed and tactile matter, wrapping paper, labels, to inspire motifs and creation of new work. I love to explore, see and experience new things. Colour, texture and shape are some of the most important aspects of both my personal life and my life as a designer. I generally work using my Wacom tablet, hand drawing motifs from photos or my imagination. I love the freedom and organic lines this creates and then develop the designs in illustrator.

I graduated in 2012 from University of the Arts London with a degree in graphic design and have previously worked for Dorling Kindersley and Croudace Homes among another places. I recently graduated from 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' with Rachael Taylor and Beth Nicholls. The course has helped me learn the business side to Surface Pattern Design and develop my style and confidence as a freelance designer. I am currently looking for representation, commissions, licensing so please contact me via my website for more information. My dream is to have my designs licensed across many different surfaces all over the world!"

Rosie is just about to start selling her designs in an Etsy shop, rosiesimonsdesign.etsy.com. She'll be selling greetings cards and christmas cards, so check back on the shop this weekend to be the first to buy her stock!

Rosie's links:

Blog: http://rosiesimons.blogspot.com/

Website: http://rosiesimons.co.uk/

Twitter: @rosie_simons

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RosieSimonsDesign

Rosie also sells on Society6: http://society6.com/rosiesimons