Made in Scotland: Paper House Designs
As the summer approaches in the northern hemisphere we start popping into little gift shops, looking for little pieces of Scotland to bring back to our homes and everyday lives. We were delighted to chat with Mhairi from Paper Houses Design, a contemporary Scottish textile designer. Paper Houses Design creates design-led homeware, accessories and stationery to enhance your home and your life. Mhairi has been featured in multiple papers and magazines including The Guardian, Stylist, Trend Bible and Homes & Interiors – quite the list! Read on to find out more about Mhairi’s journey to becoming an independent creator, her favourite place to visit in Scotland and the surprising inspiration she found in a childs toy!
Can you tell us how your business got started?
Paper Houses Design properly started in 2018, when my son was three months old. Before I had been teaching and working freelance doing textile designs for other companies. I’d create designs that were to match up to the future trends. They would be sold at a trend fair in Paris called Premier Vision. A big sports brand once bought one of my designs and I wasn’t even allowed to put it on my CV or website. The whole thing started to get to me but it was not knowing what the end use of my designs would be that really worried me. Would it be made into a piece of fast-fashion clothing? Were people getting paid fairly? This is when I started my own studio, designing for my own products and collaborations. Patterns are trans-seasonal and not trend-driven. They adorn products that are designed and created consciously. I was lucky to apply and gain support via Meet Your Mentor from The Barn Arts and Craft Scotland, which meant I was paired with a brilliant mentor to help me navigate the tricky starting times. Then in 2019, I gained a place on a pilot of a Creative Kickstarted project from Creative Scotland which helped me prepare for a pre-order to launch my first collection SIGNALS. The focus has always been on creating bold sustainable designs and products whilst engaging people in textiles. I’m really proud of the way in which it’s grown.
Where do you look for inspiration when you are designing new products?
My designs often start with taking a wander about. I keep a small sketchbook on me at all times, but even a scrap of paper will do for ideas. I’m drawn to man-made elements in the landscape and overlooked everyday things like drain covers and layers of chipped paint on doors. I love taking something that folks may deem ugly and turning it into a pattern they enjoy looking at. My most recent collection TAY has taken inspiration from the Tay Rail Bridge and I’m working on other designs that have been inspired by the shapes in old bashed wooden building blocks I played with as a kid and now my daughter’s been playing with them too.
Can you tell us a bit more about how you make your products?
The way I make is a real variety depending on the product. Some are screen printed and hand stitched and some are digitally printed before being sewn into products and some come from the waste fabric from my other products. My main collections are digitally printed, for longer repeats and multiple colourways, this works better. The digital printers I work with, Magic Textiles, have brilliant sustainability values and that’s one reason why I love working with them. Once I get the fabric back I quality check it and prep it for cutting. I only make up what I need at the time. This limits waste but does mean you might have to wait a bit longer for something to come back into stock. I design all my products in my studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen, it’s great being part of a creative community.
What are your most popular products and which are your own favourites?
The most popular products are the cases, closely followed by the tote bags. Folks often buy them as gifts which makes sense because they are very handy! My favourite has to be my wall hangings. I get to take my time with them and the ideas for each can grow as I’m making them. I start off with an idea then it grows quite organically. That said, I’d have to say the sketchbooks are a close second favourite for me as I always have one on me which I grab to sketch out any ideas.
If you had to pick one place in Scotland to recommend that people visit, where would it be?
Orkney! I love holidaying in Scotland and have been to a few places. I really loved Orkney. There was so much to do and so much inspiration. From nature to man-make structures like these amazing concrete forms. The Pier Arts Centre is brilliant too, seeing Barbara Hepworth’s sketches close up was amazing. Of course, I’d also say Aberdeenshire, my current home, and Fife, where I grew up. Both have an excellent mix of coastal and inland places to wander.
Which other Scottish Makers do you love to recommend?
Hackley, Rachel is an amazing designer maker. She designs bags that are not only practical but beautiful. Her colours are so well balanced with vibrant pops. She’s recently been exploring her love of plants too making simply beautiful plant hangers. I’ve got a couple of her cutting hangers in my studio.
Aubin Stewart’s jewellery is my favourite. She made my wedding ring and I have necklaces and earrings from her colourful collections. The way Aubin explores materials is brilliant, I love the variety of textures and use of colour in her work.
https://www.aubinjewellery.com/
Both are based at Deemouth Artist Studios too!
Thanks so much to Mhairi for taking the time to chat with us about her beautiful pieces, we loved finding out about her inspiration. Make sure to check out her Website, Facebook and Instagram to find out more and get shopping for all your upcoming events!