Q&A with Tessuti & PickOne

Fiona McIntosh, Tessuti:

1) Who are you and what do you do?

I'm Fiona McIntosh, a printed textile designer trading under the name

of Tessuti Printed Textiles and co-owner of Concrete Wardrobe.

2) Tell us something surprising about your studio space/education/life experiences.

I studied at the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels, which has now become part of Heriot Watt University.  I graguated in 1984 and set up in business a year later.  I work from my ground floor studio within the Albion Business Centre, tucked away behind the Hibernian football stadium.

3) What do you do to relax?

Although it doesn't sound very relaxing I've taken up drumming and joined a band! I'm tutored by my partner who's a drummer and is also in the band along with three other friends.

4) What advice would you give to other makers?

The best advice I can give to other makers is to follow your instincts - if it feels right, do it and persevere!

Jamed Donald, PickOne:

 1) Who are you and what do you do?

My name is James Donald and I am a hand weaver based at Coburg House Art Studios in Leith.  I think I have been working from there for the past 6 years or so.

2) Tell us something surprising about your studio space/education/life experiences.

My studio is in the basement of the building and originally this was a massive grain store, back in the day and more recently was used by Tom Kitchin as a storage space for his bits and bobs before I moved in. It’s a fairly big studio, which enables me to teach from as well as host other workshops.

In my humble opinion we have the best studios in Edinburgh in a very friendly busy space, which accommodates over 80 different artists and designer makers. I would not want to be anywhere else!

3) Where do you see your creative practice going?

Well I'd still like to be “going” to begin with! I have a few ideas up my sleeve that will keep me occupied for a wee while. Expansion is definitely on the cards.

4) Who would you like to have over for dinner?

Oh, that such an easy question to answer! I would have Alison Moyet, Dawn French and Graham Norton over for a few cheery G&T’s

5) What is the best thing about being an independent maker?

Having my own timetable and never really knowing 

what is around the corner.  I gave up my 18-year teaching job last December and I haven’t looked back! Opperchancities arise when you put yourself out there and this year I had the fantastic chance to participate in the World Crafts Council selling event  in Dongyang, China, which would never have happened had I still been tied to a regular 9 to 5.

News Release: Immediate Release

September 2013

November Wrapped Up

This November, the textile delights of two established Edinburgh based designer makers are on show at Concrete Wardrobe, for a joint Maker of the Month exhibition.

Fiona McIntosh, a.k.a. Tessuti, and James Donald, a.k.a. PickOne are exhibiting their most recent wearable pieces, just in time for a seasonal wardrobe update.

Tessuti is exhibiting a selection of silk scarves, silk by the metre, and a limited collection of ceramic mugs. Her pieces are created by hand dying and then silk-screen printing the silk using the ‘discharge’ method. This method enables her to create beautiful colour ways whilst retaining the original soft handle of the fabric. The ceramic mug range reflects her house style in a new medium.

PickOne is showcasing a range of woven scarves in various sizes, with colours inspired by forthcoming fashion colour trends.  The 2013/14 collection is hand woven using a mixture of lambswool, linen, dip-dyed silk linen,  and various fine cottons. The pieces incorporate double cloth weave structures, designed and manufactured from PickOne’s Leith based studio, on a 32 shaft computerised loom. Each piece is woven to a generous length before being hand finished, washed, air dried and partially pressed, to give each item its distinctive look and feel. PickOne will also be launching their latest range of highball glasses, which have been designed on an iPhone from original hand drawn images and hand etched in Dundee.

Of their exhibition at Concrete Wardrobe, Fiona McIntosh commented, “It’s always special to exhibit at Concrete Wardrobe, as James (Donald) and I founded the shop over ten years ago. Our practices have developed with the shop, bridging textiles and home wares to create a broad range of work in our two distinctive styles.”

James Donald, co-owner of Concrete Wardrobe added, “Concrete Wardrobe customers enjoy the fact that they know exactly where their purchases are made, and by whom. They can even come into the shop and meet the maker.” 

Tessuti and PickOne will be available in the shop for questions and chat, on Saturday 2^nd November 2013 between 12-2pm.

Tessuti and PickOne will be on display at Concrete Wardrobe from 1^st to 30^th November 2013.

Concrete Wardrobe is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm. (Sunday 12 - 5pm.)

Concrete Wardrobe 50a Broughton Street, Edinburgh EH1 3SA

ENDS

PR: Katherine Emtage. Co-Owners: James Donald & Fiona McIntosh.

November has been a busy old month and it's fairly flying in as we approach the party season and to ease us into the bright lights of December we have the colourful work of Concrete Wardrobes co-owners James Donald and Fiona McIntosh with some new and innovative hand printed and hand woven work - all of which is exclusive to Concrete Wardrobe. 

November already! How did that happen I hear you say ... well if I knew I would bottle it and sell it in Concrete Wardrobe!

As well as the onset of a drop in temperture in November as we move through the year, we have also taken delivery of Fiona McIntosh's, who also happens to be one of the co-owners of Concrete Wardrobe, fantastic bright and colourful silk screen printed fabrics. Each piece  have been hand printed in her Edinburgh based studio, details enclosed and have been printed on various qualities of fabric including a warm to the touch soft knitted fabric.

These pieces will be available to purchase from us here at Concrerte Wardrobe through the month of November and beyond!

As well as these pieces Fiona has also produced a collection of limited edition ceramics pieces and a couple of one off pieces including an AMAZING trench coat all using Fiona's wonderful 50's inspired hand printed fabrics!

These pieces will be a very welcome colourful editions to wardrobes up and down the country!