Emma J Shipley’s mission is to share the magic of nature and spark the imagination. The joyful and vibrant homeware brand is known for its fantastical prints based on founder Emma’s hand-drawn illustrations. Her inspiration comes from the unique beauty of the natural world, and her designs explore myths, legends and surreal fantasy.
The brand’s collections include home furnishings, accessories and lifestyle items (such as scarves, phone cases and notebooks), all adorned with Emma’s colourful and intricately drawn artworks. Everything is made ethically, in premium materials, while always considering and minimising the impact on the environment. Sustainability is a key part of the brand, and all pieces are meant to be treasured for years to come. Bestselling styles include the zebra-strewn ‘Lost World’ bedding, the ‘Zambezi’ luxury velvet cushion with its elegant elephant design and the ‘Lynx’ wallpaper.
The joyful and vibrant homeware brand is known for its fantastical prints based on founder Emma’s hand-drawn illustrations
The brand launched at London Fashion Week in 2012, after Emma graduated from the Royal College of Art. She won multiple awards for her drawing and designs on graduation, and has since won business recognition in the UK and internationally, including the WGSN Global Fashion Award for Emerging Brand. Fashion boutique Browns launched her graduate collection of printed scarves; today, the homeware and lifestyle collections are stocked in some of the best department stores around the world, including Harrods and Liberty London, with the full range available on emmajshipley.com.
The company has always been committed to protecting the environment, and, in particular, endangered species. ‘We have given back to nature with a number of charities over the years, and in 2020 we launched an ongoing partnership with World Land Trust,’ says Emma. ‘As part of their Plant a Tree programme, WLT are planting native trees to save, protect and restore critically threatened habitat for wildlife. We have currently donated over 3,000 trees, funded by purchases on emmajshipley.com, and we will continue to support endangered wildlife in the future.’
The last few years have seen the product range grow, and in spring 2022 the first ‘Fine China Dining’ collection was launched. It comprises plates, bowls and mugs, all crafted expertly in Stoke-on-Trent from fine bone china, and adorned with four of the brand’s bestselling illustrations: ‘Lynx’, ‘Zambezi’, ‘Kruger’ and ‘Rousseau’. The series has been designed to be as practical as it is magical, with all pieces being dishwasher and microwave safe.
‘It’s been so exciting to work on a completely new category and material for me, especially collaborating with such talented makers here in the UK,’ says Emma. ‘It wasn’t easy translating my detailed designs, which required 12 layers of screen-printed colour; however it was worth all the hard work and I’m delighted with the outcome. I can’t wait for people to be able to spark their imagination with my designs over a meal or cup of coffee!’ The product range will continue to grow this year, with more pieces to add to the table, new cushions and prints, plus some special collections to celebrate a decade of the brand. These are original designs, to be treasured for years to come.
Emma J Shipley, 81 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY +44 (0)20 4538 4201
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