Oral history; Interview with Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell of Wallace Sewell, 2016
Main details
| Reference number | 2016/1688 |
|---|---|
| Description | Textile designers Harriet Wallace- Jones and Emma Sewell talk about the process of moquette design and production, as well as their work for TfL. |
| Interviewee | Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell |
| Dates | 07/01/2016 |
| Collection | |
| Object type |
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| Topics | |
| Completeness | 62% |
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Physical description
Item content Attribute Value Object title Interview with Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell, 2016 -
Interview summary
Harriet Wallace-Jones (HWJ) was born 25 January 1965 in Poole, Dorset. Attended Sherborne School, then Rugby School in Warwickshire for sixth form. Interested in art and design at school, wanted to pursue graphic design until learned more at foundation level. Attended Bournemouth College for art foundation; tried variety of disciplines. Developed interest in textiles [00.04.10]. Attended Central Saint Martins. Describes content of textile course. Talks about competition of getting a place on woven textiles course at Royal College of Art. Emma Sewell (ES) also awarded a place in the same year [00.06.00]. Describes content of Masters degree; two year course. Mentions work experience in New York. Talks about finishing course during recession and so started up a business with ES. Describes creating warps during placement in New York. Talks through early career including applying for Arts Grant [00.09.10]. Describes creating scarves as first products; receiving an order from Barney’s and the Guggenheim in New York. Initially designed separate products but now collaborate on designs as joint company. Talks through process of designing a scarf including primary research, taking inspiration from art [00.13.05]. Explains what a warp is and how threads are fixed to a loom [00.16.00]. Describes difference between warp and weft. Talks through where influence and inspiration comes from – painters, architecture. Describes size of company today. Relationship with the mill in Lancashire, including visiting a few times a year. Describes early relationship with first mill [00.20.35] and learning mechanics of looms. Able to speak the language of looming. Comments on the closure of mills and the competition from Asia. Incident of flood at one of the first mills who were weaving for HWJ and ES; current mill, Mitchell Interflex, took over work following flood. Talks through early relationship with Transport for London (TfL) [00.24.40]. Put forward for competition in 2005 by PR manager who had joined the company, designing fabric for Silverlink trains. Describes design brief of being restricted on the number of colours that could be used. Needing to consider wear and tear, pattern to disguise dirt, potential vandalism. Acknowledges that a good interior design on transport should be simple and unnoticed [00.29.00]. Considering London heritage in designs. Talks through the various TfL commissions including Tramlink, buses, Crossrail interim. Emma Sewell joins conversation to give details of commissions. Describes travelling on train and bus routes to get inspiration, wanting to reflect local environment. Wanting to capture London as a theme in designs. Discusses brief for the Piccadilly Line [00.34.10]. Blind competition, allowed to submit a number of designs. Very successful outcome, Barman design won. Talks through moquette production process, similar to velvet and pile. Most durable type of fabric. Moquette weaved on power looms, mechanised process. Explains who produces moquette – Holdsworth Mill bought by Camira [00.39.20]. Camira produce all TfL fabrics. Describes first seeing Barman design on the Tube. Exciting and proud. Talks about LU150 commission of products for London Transport Museum shop, including scarf and throw. Mentions upcoming commissions and projects [00.43.00]. Describes pride in company and launch of e-commerce website. Interview hands over to Emma Sewell to discuss Barman moquette commission [00.47.20]. Describes sketching London landmarks and abstracting into a textile design. Mentions almost not submitting Barman design to competition. London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge four landmarks represented in Barman. HWJ re-joins discussion [00.51.45]. Brief very clear in terms of colour proportions. TfL commissions have encouraged a different method of design, which ES enjoyed. Describes how colour looks different from paper to a tufted yarn. Small change in colour can change overall design. TfL commission was the first time ES had designed for tufted material [00.56.15]. Helped to then design furnishing for American company. Describes partnership with TfL and Camira being positive. Ends with stating that the Barman is ES’s favourite design. -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Interviewer Jen Kavanagh, 07/01/2016Interviewee Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Interview location Lloyd Baker Street, 07/01/2016People Attribute Value People Harriet Wallace-Jones - 2016Emma Sewell - 2016
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