Wednesday 8 August 2012

Introducing Prints Charming

We are hugely excited to be collaborating with design studio Prints Charming on a range of fabrics exclusive to Spotlight. The Prints Charming designs are absolutely stunning - bold, bright and beautiful, just in time for your summer sewing projects!

The Prints Charming team - Cath and Kirsten!


Cath and Kirsten started Prints Charming around 8 years ago after working together for respected fabric manufacturer John Kaldor. Combining their love of craft, textile and print, the ladies together have created a signature style that is vibrant and quirky and are championing modern contemporary craft and education.

When the Prints Charming ladies approached us about collaborating on some fabric ranges, we thought it too good to be true. But now as the stock begins to hit stores (this week!), we thought it might be a good time to get to know the talent behind these gorgeous designs.


Tomorrow on W&W: we'll show you the gorgeous Prints Charming range hitting Spotlight Stores!

 Click "read more" to see our mini-interview with Cath and Kirsten


 
·         Where do you get your inspiration from?  
      We inspire each other and being able to bounce ideas around will often lead to wonderful serendipitous designs. We both speak the same visual language and gravitate to similar colour palettes and themes. Our mothers, both inspirational sewers, instilled in us the joy the joy of making. Both us of lucky enough to be surrounded by the designers and colours of the 70’s.  Our classes and meeting students are also a great inspiration, the thrill people get when they have designed and printed their own fabric is great fun.

·         What Australian designers are successful in your eyes? 
      Easton Pearson we gravitate to for their the wonderful use of craft in fashion and divine fabric choices. Flamingo Park (Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson) who forged the way both in Australia and internationally with screen printed fabrics.

·         Tell us about working with John Kaldor. 
      What was it like?  The 80’s were a great time to be involved in the rag trade in Australia. John very forward thinking and artisan in his approach to the commercial production of fabrics. We were surrounded by artworks by Christo, Koons and Gilbet and George.  We both learnt the nuts and bolts of the rag trade. To be designing dress fabrics again and for yet another Australian company, Spotlight is exciting. 

·         What makes Prints Charming unique?  
     The way we print out artwork means we can convert our hand cut paper stencil “look” into mass production. It’s all done by hand, we don’t use any computer design. All stencils are cut from paper and then screen printed directly onto fabric, giving a realistic version of the end result. We mix inks to our colour choices which again enhances the unique design.

·         Can you each pick your favourite pantone for Summer and tell us a little about why you chose it? We don’t follow trends specifically and don’t use pantone numbers. But we would have to say we are loving the raspberry citron colours that can be seen Rainbow Garden and the hexy print from our new line.

·         How messy does the studio actually get when our screen printing?   
     Trust us it can get messy, usually just as the phone rings! We are quite experienced at this so although ink does occasionly go wayward it’s not that bad. 
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The Prints Charming Studio

Prints Charming Fabrics are in store THIS WEEK! Check out our Facebook for a sneak peek

3 comments:

  1. Totally Excited! Can't wait!

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  2. Wow, this is great news!! Just found your blog through the Spotlight facebook page and have to say that you guys are doing a FANTASTIC job - I've noticed such a big shift in the style of dress and quilting fabric instore lately, all in the right direction (especially love the Reprodepot prints I spotted last week). Nice work, folks!

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  3. Wow...cant wait...I will be stalking my local store for these!

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