Je vous en prie

I was very excited to learn about a brand new weave company called Je Vous En Prie, based here in the UK. After watching the countdown to their launch on Facebook, I was delighted to peruse their new website showcasing a very covetable range of graphic weave structures in fine silk, made into lampshades, cushions and doorstops.  A collaboration between weaver Fabienne Lecocq interior designer Jerome Barris, their collection, branding, and approach feels very fresh. I'm sure they're going to go far.

In their own words:

Je Vous En Prie specializes in designing and producing woven furnishing fabrics. Working alongside interior designers and private clients they design and produce bespoke fabrics for those who are looking for that unique fabric. The brand has now developed their own collection specializing in woven fabrics that have evolved into a range of luxury silk home accessories. JVEP are very proud to be 100% British in sourcing and supporting other British products to work in conjunction with their own woven fabrics. JVEP fabrics begin their life on the handloom in the studio, being carefully designed and constructed to create beautiful hand woven samples, which are then developed using the very best British Mills.

JVEP work with silk mills using the finest silk which gives our fabrics the luxurious touch. We currently sell on notonthehighstreet.com and have a growing number of followers of our blog facebook.com/jevousenprie. We make and sell a variety of products: cushions, lampshades, lavender bags, doorstops, draft excluders, furniture and we hope to continually increase our interior collection. We also have a handwoven collection which will be launching next year along with some throws.

Why Je Vous En Prie? This question is asked to us on a near daily basis. It’s a polite French phrase, that has a number of meanings, that just came to us one day and works well with what we strive to be as a brand. We’re a French design duo, we want to infuse French design with British manufacturing, Je Vous En Prie has such a fantastic meaning and as we produce our interiors collection, it really truly is our pleasure!

Je Vous En Prie: ‘My pleasure, no problem, thank you’ 

Jessica Light

I love Jessica Light's textiles.  I first stumbled across her work at Tent London in 2009, and was thrilled to find that she has a thriving ultra-niche business producing hand made trimmings.  She makes use of surprising yarns such as horsehair and light reflective thread alongside the more expected silks,linens and cottons etc.  Her website is a treat to browse through, full of lovely images.

Below are a couple of pictures of her stand at this years' Tent London:

Hand woven trimming containing light reflective yarn

Dip dyed edges, woven netting, light reflective yarns

A massive tassel made with light reflective yarn

In her own words:

One of the last working trimming weavers left in England, Jessica Light produces exquisite, innovative and contemporary passementerie of exceptional quality. Everything is handmade to order in her East London workshop using methods dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

Jessica also incorporates beading and traditional crafts such as macrame, braiding and knot-work into her work and hand spins her own cord.

Apart from using traditional yarns such as silk, linen, wool, and cotton, Jessica is always experimenting and sourcing new and unusual materials. Horsehair, straw, hemp, leather, hand pleated ribbon, semi-precious stones, and springs are just some of the wide range range of materials she uses.

Her inspiration and ideas are drawn from many references. The Baroque, Modernism, Samurai and zulu warriors, origami, and military and ceremonial braiding are all themes that run though Jessica's collections.

Jessica Light offers a bespoke design and colour matching service for both interiors and fashion and her client list includes Vivienne Westwood, Marks and Spencer, MedhamKirchhof, Giles Deacon, Richard Sorger, Johanne Mills, Lesley Vik Waddell.

(Source: http://www.jessicalight.co.uk/home.html)

Insider news!

Am very excited to tell you that Jessica has been booked to run a two day workshop at Craft in the Bay, Cardiff Bay next year.

The information hasn't yet gone on the Craft in the Bay website, but they can take telephone bookings.  I've already booked myself a place!

Details as follows:

An introduction to the art of creating passementerie.
Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th February 2011 at Craft in the Bay
£100

Jessica will teach students how to weave beautiful trims including fringes, fan edges, and gimp braids using techniques that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. 

Suitable for intermediate.

Places limited to six so early booking is advisable. T: 029 20484611