Amelia Graham is a Brighton born textile designer who works in fashion, interiors and art. After graduating from Chelsea College of Art and Design, she went on to have a successful career in London as a womenswear print designer for a decade. She then moved to Paris to work for brands such as Calvin Klein, Topshop, Paul & Jo before returning to Brighton with her family. Her prints are inspired by brutalist architecture, African art and geometrics.
How did Amelia Graham Print come to fruition?
I worked for a studio for years creating prints for womenswear. We would design patterns and these would be shown to fashion clients, who would then buy them to use them in their line. Working like this meant that no credit was ever given to the designer. You could see you work in Vogue or on the catwalk and it would never be attributed to you. So at some point I decided to make my own line, I wanted to have a product with my name on it. So when I was 8 months pregnant with my first son with that sort of mad energy that pregnant women often get, I printed some fabric and my mum made it into beautiful cushions and I trawled to Liberty to show them at the Open Call. Nothing came of that but the label was born! At the same time I started having some private commissions for womenswear, so instead of working through the studio I had direct contact with my clients, which I loved.
Your work has an African feel to it with lots of geometric shapes and bold colour. I also sense some kaleidoscopic 1960s vibrations too. Where do you seek inspiration for your work?
I look at art and design, architecture, painting. I don’t specifically create mood boards I just work intuitively, like a kind of creative play. I suppose what I am drawn to is subconsciously represented in my work I love Wax Print, and I think my work has essences of different genres of textiles, and or art movements but I hope it is reverential without being wholly referential.
What is it about print that made you want to specialise in this medium?
On Art Foundation (at BTEC) I wanted to be a furniture designer or a painter, but soon realised I had a stronger one dimensional sense of form, I actually couldn’t really visualise things in a 2 or 3D way very easily. I wanted to paint but I liked the permitters of being a designer, of the piece having a function. Have you one person, if given the chance, would you like to meet? I’d like to meet my Grandad who died before I was born.
I see that you have collaborated with the Help Refugees Charity. How important is keeping with the zeitgeist through your work? Would you say it’s your responsibility as an artist?
Yes I have, I’ve also worked with the WWF for Earth Hour, and am currently raising money for the NHS with Brighton based print studio evermade.com. I think it’s a social responsibility for anyone with any sort of platform to use their position to raise awareness and raise money for charitable causes. I would happily take on more! I am also mindful of being ethical in my production. All my products are made in the UK, and in small runs or on demand.
What do you love most about living in Brighton?
I love the air, before I moved back (I lived in London, Paris and Geneva for over a decade) we would always remark how wonderful the air is! I love how tolerant and progressive Brighton is. As a Vegetarian child it was such an easy place to grow up, so much choice compared to the rest of the UK in the 80’s. I think people are kinder here, Brighton attracts a certain type of person.
You are known for a melange of working within interiors, fashion and art. Can you tell us about your creative background?
I did my BA in Textiles at Chelsea College of Art, I then worked for various studios designing womenswear…I gradually started to have private commissions in womenswear, in interiors. I really stand by the concept that print can work across genre. I like the notion of Gesamtkunstwerk. I love to collaborate with people from different disciplines, I’m always looking for new areas to apply my work.
What is your desert island book?
I’d like something like a book of Julius Shulman photographs of the case study houses or a huge compendium on Modernism.
What has been your career highlight so far?
This Spring, I was supposed to have my scarves stocked on the Tate modern shop. The order will still ship to them and maybe make the online shop, but I was very excited to take my family up to check out my work in the shop! So that was my highlight to be….
If you hadn’t been an artist, what path would you have taken?
I am not sure but I’ve always wanted to have some goats! And live in Italy or Greece. To be outside in nature. Maybe a photographer with goats.
And finally, what words of advice do you have for the future print artists who are planning on building a business?
To be authentic, I think if you love what you do its shines through in your work.
Photos- Kristy Noble, Megan Taylor and Jo Bailey.
