University News Last updated 12 June 2013
A textile design lecturer from Birmingham City University is set to bring the outdoors inside with her collection of handmade textile and paper products inspired by her love of kitchen gardens and allotments.
Kate Farley, a lecturer on the Textile Design degree course at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) – part of Birmingham City University – launched her ‘Plot to Plate’ collection last year and is set to showcase the latest products in her range in a solo exhibition at homeware specialists, Tinsmiths, Ledbury.
Taking inspiration from her own allotment in Birmingham, Kate’s collection reflects the journey of home-grown vegetables - from the vegetable plot to the plate - celebrating the home-grown, home-cooked ethic. The collection consists of tea towels, notebooks and cotton bags with designs featuring garden rakes and kitchen whisks to knives and forks.
Kate has worked alongside Tinsmiths to further develop her designs for interior textiles, including curtains, cushions and upholstered chairs which will be on display at the company’s showroom until Sunday 16 June.
“Developing the textiles for interiors with Tinsmiths has been fantastic,” said Kate. “We have discussed fabric choices, colours and motifs to move forward with, all in relation to the print language. They know their customers so well. The exhibition tells the story of the journey from the sketchbook to the fabric and I’m excited about where it has taken me. We’ve had such positive feedback so far and I look forward to the next chapter.”
The hard work of designing, sourcing materials and making products, as well as promotion of the collection has been carried out alongside Kate’s day-to-day job at the University.
She added: “It’s so important to me that as a lecturer I practice what I teach, that the students can see how things happen – and for me, that I don’t only tell others how to do it, but that I get on and do it too – even if that means being very busy!”
Kate’s Plot to Plate range is currently on display at the Birmingham Made Me design exhibition which runs until Friday 21 June.
For further information on Kate’s designs or to make a purchase please visit her website.
The 2013 BIAD graduate shows showcase an eclectic range of fresh, innovative ideas from up and coming designers across a variety of subjects. This year’s shows run from the 10-16 June.