Spotlight on the Seller - Emily Farncombe Upholstery

Emily has been upholstering in Leeds for seven years. 

She did a fine art degree in Edinburgh after leaving her homeland of the lake district. She graduated and set sail to New Zealand where she lived and worked towards an exhibition of her fine art work which was largely sculptural based with video projection installation. 

After returning from her time abroad Emily retrained in upholstery after inheriting some furniture from an elderly uncle who was an avid antique furniture collector. Emily says: 

"I couldn't bear to see all his wonderful and beautiful furniture being packed off to the auction room, I thought to myself, I am going to learn how to re-vamp that and give it a new lease of life". 

Emily works in Headingley in her workshop along side three other designer makers. She works with her clients to help them re vamp and restore their chairs and sofas to bring them up to date and breathe new life and colour in to their homes. Emily says:

"The best part of my job is working with my clients to help them realise they can make their homes an exciting and fun place to be, I love meeting new people and helping them choose colours, textures, designs and styles." 

Emily also teaches classes in her workshop and works on her own portfolio of exciting and innovative upholstery designs as well as running a re-upholstery and interior design service. She can be contacted on:

Emily Farncombe Upholstery 

38-40 Weetwood Lane

Headingley 

Leeds

07769530373 

www.emliyfarncombe.co.uk 

emily@emilyfarncombe.co.uk

Spotlight on the Seller- Ages Of Elegance

Our first Spotlight on the Seller this year is our leader Dawn Wood, who when she's not trying to cover us all in gingham, works from her studio near the corn exchange in Leeds city centre, creating clothing as Ages Of Elegance

She trained during the last Millenium as a fashion designer, having always had a passion for clothes with the best dressed dolls around. Not just contemporary garments or from a fashion point of view, but also historical & and in it's wider socio-economic setting. Somewhere in the vaults of Huddersfield uni is a super 8 film of her talking about viking clothing aged 12 whilst a class project was being filmed.

This interest led to her moving into making costume for film and theatre, moving to London to work at two of the largest film costume houses, and the Royal Opera House before becoming freelance. She now also produces clothing for museums and collectors, specialising in military uniforms, 18thc clothing and corsetry, as well as giving costume talks. She has sent 16thc patterns in the diplomatic bag to Uzbekistan, created the 17thc bodyguard for the King of Norway, and dyed Phil Collin's underpants for the film Buster

Her move back to Yorkshire 12 years ago meant she started to produce her fashion label again alongside and she sells one off items from this in the shop as well as taking on bespoke work both fashion and bridal. She has been regularly nominated as best designer in Leeds and for her lingerie in the Leeds Retails Awards and was the featured lingerie designer in the 2006 Urban Fashion Awards

Her work is diverse and for both men and women so if you want a truly unique outfit you know where to come. She is also our main tutor and if you come for any of her classes you know you are being taught by a longstanding expert in her field