.
Emily Bowring is the designer behind Pomily. We sat down with her to talk about everything from potato printing, the childhood memories that inspire her designs and learning to live sustainably.
.
When did you first start designing textiles?
.
It really happened completely by accident, and I still have to pinch myself that I’m doing what I’m doing! I have worked in interior design for 6 years, so I have always been drawn to sourcing and working with fabrics in the creative sphere. But it was in the first covid lockdown, when Molly Mahon started demonstrating potato printing on Instagram, that I thought I’d give it a whirl myself. I fell in love with it and spent hours carving into potatoes and stamping anything I could get my hands on. I subsequently taught myself how to edit and turn these prints into a pattern repeat on my computer. It took around two years of trial and error before I felt happy with some of the designs I’d created.
.
We particularly love your 'Checkers' pattern (as do our customers). What’s your favourite design from your collection?
.
Thank you! I love Checkers too, but I think I’d have to say ‘Meander’, as this was one of the first potato cuts I ever made. I feel it represents the beginning of this accidental journey that I’ve embarked on, and I think I’ll always feel a bit attached to it.
.
Shop Checkers by Pomily >
Is there a particular place you look for inspiration?
.
Growing up in the Yorkshire Dales, the countryside will always have my heart, and I’ve been lucky to have grown up surrounded by the most amazing scenery and nature. I love spending time and finding inspiration in the great outdoors, so quite a few of my designs reflect this, such as ‘Pine Cones’, ‘Swell’, ‘Meander’ and ‘Bloom’. My latest design, ‘Swell’, was inspired by the movement of the waves and sea. I’m happiest when by the sea - childhood summers were spent down on the Cornish coast, so it’s a bit of an ode to this.
.
I have endless fond memories of days spent on beaches, bodyboarding and getting taken out by waves, and just spending hours in the sea. I’m always blown away by the power and vastness of the ocean, yet I find it brings such a sense of calm, which I hope this design somehow evokes.
.
Tell us more about your design process. What’s involved, and how long does it take?
.
Often it just starts with an idea or image in my head, which I try to turn into a reality. I take a chopping board, a knife and a potato and just see what happens. I love the organic shapes and textures a potato can create - you never really know how it’s going to turn out. Sometimes the design will seemingly fall into place relatively quickly, while some can take a lot longer before something clicks.
I’ve always loved painting, so some of my designs are also hand-painted
I have so many designs tucked away and have spent endless hours on my computer editing and reworking the designs. Luckily, I find this very therapeutic, and I love the endless possibilities.
.
When it comes to sampling, there is a lot of back and forth with the printing factory (who are based in the north of England), adjusting the colours and scales etc. It can be a long and costly process, but it makes it all the more satisfying when you feel like you’ve finally hit the nail on the head.
.
.
What's your favourite colour to work with? Are you drawn to one in particular?
.
I’m always drawn to blues, and often the designs will always start with a blue or teal colour as I find this the most calming and usable colour. Subconsciously this might be related to my love of the sea and outdoors and all the various hues of blues and greens we are surrounded by in nature.
You are part of the Haines Curates collective because of the steps you take to make sure your business is as sustainably-minded as possible. What's one tip you can share for making daily life more eco-conscious?
I love to cook, so I always try to eat and buy seasonal produce, and I eat very little meat and dairy. My friends are all over ‘Vinted’ for buying or selling clothes, which I’m also starting to get the hang of too. I live in East London, where there is a hive of independent and eco-conscious shops and businesses, so I try to shop local as much as I can. Sorry, that’s more than one tip!
Read more about Pomily’s sustainability efforts here >
Lastly, have you got any advice for starting and running your own business?
As someone who isn’t very good at backing themselves, I think this is key (although much easier said than done!). It’s only been a year since I launched, so I still have so much to learn but say yes to opportunities and take the good days with the bad. There will be hiccups that are often out of your control, but trust the process and never lose faith. And good accounting software is also a huge help!
.
It’s such a privilege and honour to be a part of Haines Curates, and after meeting some of my fellow eco designers, it’s massively comforting to know that we feel we are all in the same boat trying to navigate running our small businesses in a world that can feel a little overwhelming and scary at times.
Shop all Pomily fabrics here >
