DESIGNER PROFILE
Meet the duo behind pattern and print company, Barneby Gates
Tell us a little bit about your backgrounds. We met as children growing up in a village in Hampshire and both went to the University of Edinburgh. Alice studied fine art and went on to design prints for fashion labels such as Libélula. Vanessa’s career started in magazines, initially as an interiors stylist for House & Garden. Her passion for textiles and print led to a role overseeing the interiors section of Vogue.
How did the business take shape? We set up Barneby Gates in 2009, working from the basement of Alice’s house. We had been discussing the idea for years, and as we were both designing our own houses at the time, it seemed like the perfect moment to make it a reality. Describe your workspace.
We are based in a tiny hamlet just outside Pewsey, Wiltshire, so very much in the countryside. Our studio is a long, converted barn. All the original beams, brickwork and hooks have been restored and we have installed full-height windows at one end so we can enjoy the beautiful view out over the garden.
Where do you find creative inspiration? We often turn to nature. Anything from English robins and wildflower meadows, to bugs, bees and butterflies, can inspire us. We glean a lot from other areas of our lives, too – fashion, travel and art to name a few. One thing we’ve always strived not to be is trendy. We want our designs to stand the test of time. They often have a traditional starting point, such as a damask or trellis, which we then give a modern twist.
Talk us through the design process. It normally takes about a year to get a new idea on the shelves. We bounce ideas off one another; it’s very much a collaborative process. Alice draws out each element by hand before scanning it into the computer and playing around with scale and repeat. We do a lot of surface printing, which uses thicker inks than most printing processes to give a lovely, hand-painted feel.
What are the joys and challenges of being independent designers? We get a huge sense of achievement seeing our business grow into an international brand. But the downside is we’re both perfectionists so decisions can be incredibly slow!
Barneby Gates, 01672 560240, barnebygates.com