Graduates exhibit fabric collection at London Design Festival

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Bath Spa graduate designer duo exhibit fabric collection at London Design Festival

Friday, 13 October, 2017

Two successful Bath Spa University textiles graduates exhibited their designs at the 2017 London Design Festival.

Print designers Chloe Gregory and Annie James both graduated in July 2015 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors. The pair were selected from a list of emerging designers to be part of this year’s festival, which took place last month in Kings Cross, London.

Chloe and Annie with their creation

The designer duo, who set up their business ‘Chloe and Annie’ in January 2017, exhibited their print Foxglove. They specialise in screenprint bespoke fabric for interiors, taking their inspiration from still life paintings of the Dutch Masters to the everyday, from market stalls to gardens.

Now in its fifteenth year, the London Design Festival is part of the Arts Thread Selects at designjunction, which promotes the work of 20 new designers worldwide. The event was co-curated by designer Louisa Pacifico, owner of the Future Icons Gallery in London alongside Helen Kemp, founder of Just Got Made.

Chloe, 24, said: “We were really excited when we found out that we had been selected to show. London Design Festival is such a big prestigious event and one which we have always wanted to be a part of, so we felt very honoured to be chosen to exhibit.”

After showing their work at New Designers One Year On 2015, Chloe and Annie were offered jobs on the same print team, which helped them to kick-start their business together.

Chloe said: “Annie and I decided to set up a business together as we both shared a love for screenprint. We teamed up regularly in the print room whilst we were at university. Always working together, everyone knew us as ‘Chloe and Annie’.”

The pair have since been featured in The English Home Magazine and exhibited at the 2015 Great Bath Food Feast, the 2015 Woodhouse and law Pop-Up Exhibition, New Designers One Year On 2016 and the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.

Annie, 25, said: “We chose to study at Bath Spa because of the variety of subject areas the course offered. It was the perfect start into textile design, as it gave us the opportunity to explore different specialisms before deciding on a chosen pathway, which for us was print.”

Chloe added: “Our course leader Amanda Goode is an inspiration. She encouraged us to think in new ways and pushed every element of the design process – drawing, colour and innovation.”

Over the next year, Chloe and Annie plan to continue working on commissions and collaborations.

Chloe said: “We would like to meet other new and exciting designers to work with. A bigger studio would be great too.”

Amanda Goode, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors at Bath Spa University, added: “We are constantly amazed by the wealth of talent and entrepreneurship that emanates from our students. They each bring their own unique, creative input which enhances the programme with vitality and spirit. This was especially true of Chloe and Annie.

“They were always dedicated and focussed. They were a pleasure to know and teach, and I wish them every success in the future.”

For more information about Chloe and Annie and their business, please visit their website. To view their work, please visit their Instagram and Twitter accounts.