Article about Inspired:London by Kathryn Sharman
We Make London’s first book, Inspired: London – A guide to Handmade in London is a new and exciting title for anyone and everyone with a passion for and interest in buying handmade design. Of course, while the design talent showcased within its pages is London-based, you don’t have to live in London, or even the UK, to find it useful and interesting.
What The Artists and Writer’s Yearbook is to the literary world and the Michelin Guide is to the restaurant scene, so Inspired:London is to handmade design. Think of it as a one stop source book for the best designer-makers London has to offer. Not only does this handbook offer a visual reference point for the beautiful, unique handmade work of each of the 162 cherry-picked designers featured, it also provides an indispensable tool whereby buyers (from capital-dwelling locals to international tourists) as well as stylists and journalists can connect with designers and their work on a personal level.
Inspired:London is the brainchild of Mary McDermott, the owner of We Make London, which was created in 2008 to enable talented people to make a living from designing and making, by uniting buyers with makers at fun-filled fairs and exciting events. Now in its fourth year, We Make London is one of the top organisers of events for the UK handmade design community in London.
Taking the same ethos, a book that showcases London’s design talent was the obvious next step for creator Mary McDermott, as she explains:
“We are always mesmerised by the beautiful work designer-makers share at our events and we are extremely proud of the amazing diversity of talent and skills in our capital city. We have recreated that beauty in our book Inspired:London – A guide to Handmade in London”.
The wealth of design included is wide-ranging from jewellery-making, fashion and textiles to illustration and art. Prominent designers include Anna Wiscombe, who produces a range of contemporary decorative and functional wooden products inspired by the natural environment, Justine Ellis and her beautiful screen prints, Sophie Long and her exquisite hand-embroidery who contributed to Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress, Catriona Chapman and her unique illustrations and Sam Wingate who has worked with retailers to produce bespoke and exclusive ranges, including cushions for Harrods, Selfridges and the British Museum to name but a few. London certainly has an exclusive range of design, art, fashion and contemporary craft to warrant having a book to guide you around, and introduce you to the wonderful designers in their studios and shops, around London town and beyond.
The book, which encompasses five areas of London: North, East, Central, South and West, devotes a full page to the work of each chosen designer and also includes additional profiles on selected makers. Moreover, contact details are provided for each, so that the reader can easily access the designer’s work and even arrange to meet the designer in person to discuss a commission. It is this personalised aspect which makes the book unique and will appeal most to the reader, as Mary explains more fully.
“The business of handmade and craft has become more desirable and accessible in recent years with the increase in independent shops selling such wares as well as the advent of the online marketplace and key players such as Etsy and Folksy. However, this is still quite an impersonal and distant retail experience. We know how important it is for buyers to meet face to face with the person who designed and made the item they’re purchasing, which is why handmade markets and events have become so popular. This book encourages and facilitates the relationship between buyer and seller, connecting the reader with the designers who are right there on their doorstep.”
The 200 page book also provides key information on the London handmade scene including a directory of useful organisations, suppliers, independent shops and designer-maker markets, all helpfully split by each main area of London.
In addition, readers will also be interested to see quotes by industry experts and advocates from the creative sector including The Design Trust, ACID, UK Handmade and Creative Boom as well as designers like Rachael Taylor and Amy Lawton who share why they love the capital so much.
What The Artists and Writer’s Yearbook is to the literary world and the Michelin Guide is to the restaurant scene, so Inspired:London is to handmade design. Think of it as a one stop source book for the best designer-makers London has to offer. Not only does this handbook offer a visual reference point for the beautiful, unique handmade work of each of the 162 cherry-picked designers featured, it also provides an indispensable tool whereby buyers (from capital-dwelling locals to international tourists) as well as stylists and journalists can connect with designers and their work on a personal level.
Inspired:London is the brainchild of Mary McDermott, the owner of We Make London, which was created in 2008 to enable talented people to make a living from designing and making, by uniting buyers with makers at fun-filled fairs and exciting events. Now in its fourth year, We Make London is one of the top organisers of events for the UK handmade design community in London.
Taking the same ethos, a book that showcases London’s design talent was the obvious next step for creator Mary McDermott, as she explains:
“We are always mesmerised by the beautiful work designer-makers share at our events and we are extremely proud of the amazing diversity of talent and skills in our capital city. We have recreated that beauty in our book Inspired:London – A guide to Handmade in London”.
The wealth of design included is wide-ranging from jewellery-making, fashion and textiles to illustration and art. Prominent designers include Anna Wiscombe, who produces a range of contemporary decorative and functional wooden products inspired by the natural environment, Justine Ellis and her beautiful screen prints, Sophie Long and her exquisite hand-embroidery who contributed to Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress, Catriona Chapman and her unique illustrations and Sam Wingate who has worked with retailers to produce bespoke and exclusive ranges, including cushions for Harrods, Selfridges and the British Museum to name but a few. London certainly has an exclusive range of design, art, fashion and contemporary craft to warrant having a book to guide you around, and introduce you to the wonderful designers in their studios and shops, around London town and beyond.
The book, which encompasses five areas of London: North, East, Central, South and West, devotes a full page to the work of each chosen designer and also includes additional profiles on selected makers. Moreover, contact details are provided for each, so that the reader can easily access the designer’s work and even arrange to meet the designer in person to discuss a commission. It is this personalised aspect which makes the book unique and will appeal most to the reader, as Mary explains more fully.
“The business of handmade and craft has become more desirable and accessible in recent years with the increase in independent shops selling such wares as well as the advent of the online marketplace and key players such as Etsy and Folksy. However, this is still quite an impersonal and distant retail experience. We know how important it is for buyers to meet face to face with the person who designed and made the item they’re purchasing, which is why handmade markets and events have become so popular. This book encourages and facilitates the relationship between buyer and seller, connecting the reader with the designers who are right there on their doorstep.”
The 200 page book also provides key information on the London handmade scene including a directory of useful organisations, suppliers, independent shops and designer-maker markets, all helpfully split by each main area of London.
In addition, readers will also be interested to see quotes by industry experts and advocates from the creative sector including The Design Trust, ACID, UK Handmade and Creative Boom as well as designers like Rachael Taylor and Amy Lawton who share why they love the capital so much.
