THE SHOP FLOOR PROJECT
Samantha Allan and her mother Denise Allan, both practising fine artists and trained curators, started The Shop Floor Project (TSFP) online almost 15 years ago with the idea of ‘nurturing talent’, says Samantha, inspired by having run a Spitalfields Market stall during her Fine Art degree at London’s Guildhall University. ‘We sold old and new things, things by our friends who were makers. It was very popular – even Gilbert & George used to come by.’
Today, the pair collaborate with artists and designers to create everything from cushions, ceramics and sconces to paintings and textiles – all developed to fit with The Shop Floor Project’s romantic, other-worldly aesthetic, often echoing the dark, moody lyricism of Tudor times and 16th-century Dutch paintings. ‘It’s an atmosphere we adore in our own homes and in our own artwork,’ says Samantha.
For Christmas, there are tin ornaments handcrafted in Mexico to TSFP’S sketches of folk-art characters including an angel, lion, crown and a funny Jumping Jack man; pretty patterned socks by Minju Kim (whom Samantha spied on Netflix’s Next in Fashion); and paper crowns painted by Raphael Balme – ‘in lieu of the horrible paper hats that come with crackers,’ enthuses Samantha. There are patterned paper chains you can mix and match, and antique trays Denise has hand-painted with local estuary wading or woodland birds seen not far from TSFP’S base in a mid-19th century gunpowder warehouse in south Cumbria.
TSFP’S fabric kits are a constant sell-out – this season, there are famous female figures to sew as ornaments (Jane Austen, Elizabeth I, Dido Belle), designed by collage artist Amanda White, and an embroidery starter kit – inspired by Natalie Chanin’s book The Geometry of Hand-sewing (Abrams) – to teach different stitches, which can then be applied to the hand puppets designed by Samantha. Everything sold comes with a little story card, detailing the design process behind it. ‘We want people to cherish and keep our things, and then pass them – and their stories – on.’
theshopfloorproject.com