We are lucky enough to have a really fantastic team here at Artisans & Adventurers, and we thought it was time you got to know everyone a little bit better! Today we are getting to know our Co-Founder and Head of Design, Amy...
Tell us 3 fun facts about you!
I bought my dog Hiro when I was 23 having never owned a pet before (I was actually quite scared of dogs growing up). I found him online from a sweet old lady in Preston and travelled 5 hours by coach to get him then took him all the way back to London with me on the train the same day. He has completely changed my life for the better and I would have never met Bee and started either of our businesses without him!
I took up piano lessons three years with some money my Granddad left to me after he passed away. I like to think it’s never too late to learn new things!
Before I co-founded Artisans & Adventurers with Bee I was absolutely obsessed with cycling and had a women’s cycling accessories brand called ‘Cyclodelic’. It was the first cycling brand to have concessions in Topshop and Harrods.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I’m inspired by botanical artists that pushed the boundaries of their times like Marianne North who has a gallery at Kew Gardens. I’m also a huge fan of Zandra Rhodes, I always loved her use of colour and print and had the pleasure of collaborating on a bicycle with her in my early twenties. I went for tea at her house and she is the sweetest, most down to earth lady, she even sent a thank you letter to me after the project completed. I love that she finds the time to run a fashion business, found a textile museum, teach and still say thank you properly.
What is your dream travel destination?
I would love to visit Mauritius. It’s where my Grandpa came from (he moved to the UK to work as a teacher in his late twenties where he met my Grandma). They travelled back there together by boat when my Grandma was 17 and had their first child, my Uncle, on the island before returning to the UK to have the rest of their family. I’d love to see that part of my heritage and walk the streets that he grew up on.
What is your favourite A&A product & why?
I love our Kantha Quilts. It brings me so much joy to design them and as well as brightening up any room they are also super cosy to snuggle up in (Hiro loves them too!).
What 1 piece of advice would you give to help others live more sustainably / ethically?
Cut down on meat and dairy and start gardening. I think that growing your own plants and food even, if you just have a windowsill to do this on, not only gives us an enormous sense of well-being but also makes us appreciate nature and where everything comes from. When we feel part of our eco-system rather than separate to it, it’s easier and more enjoyable to make sustainable choices.
You can read our previous interview with Irene here, with Leona here & with Abigail here. If you'd like to know more about our team, click here. You can also get to know our artisans here.