F&P 25 Years: Julia Brendel On Her Passion For Folk Art

I was inspired to start my company in 2012 because I wanted to show a different side to my motherland, Poland. With the large Polish migration to the UK after Poland joined the EU in 2004 came stereotypes of it being a nation of cleaners and builders. While nothing is wrong with these professions, I wanted to introduce the UK to the heritage of my mother’s Poland and my father’s Hungarian roots. 

My Irish husband and co-founder, Gerry, supported me. I am the face and artistic mind of the company, but without him, it probably would never have flourished. I mostly run it by myself now, but Gerry looks after anything to do with numbers and spreadsheets. He also stops me from following my more unusual ideas, such as starting a shoe and hat collection, which I nearly did.

Although I grew up in communist Poland, my childhood home was always full of antiques, rugs and silver. My parents were resilient to the modern interior trends of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, so we rarely had anything in the house made of MDF or plastic. My Dad would bring back beautiful Hungarian Herend porcelain and embroidered linen tablecloths. 

In Europe, especially in Poland, each region has its own folk costumes. Patterns and embroidery can even differ from village to village. You can tell where someone comes from by their clothing. 

Julia Brendel wears a traditional shirt from the Polish Kurpie region, the inspiration for one of her most popular designs

I don’t follow trends and don’t produce a collection per year. I add patterns as I develop them, sometimes three times a year, sometimes once. I am impatient; I don’t like waiting to release my new designs. 

My home has featured in many interior design magazines and I cherish each article. You learn a lot working with professional stylists and photographers. 

Everything on my website and social media is designed by me, including photo shoot sets, styling and photography. I rarely use anyone else. I once painted a picture to match a set, as I needed a yellow lemon to complement the scene. I hunt for props online and at local antique markets, which brings me massive joy but makes my home cluttered. My Mum's dream was to have an antiques shop, so I guess it runs in the family.

Working alone is sometimes a big challenge. It often would help to have a second opinion on various issues, someone to bounce ideas off, or another pair of hands to lift the heavy fabric rolls. 

I love designing new patterns, but it is a small part of running my business. There are so many other areas in which I express my creativity. From choosing colourways to doing my social media, writing press releases and more, I often switch between many tasks in one day. I also love exhibiting at trade shows. Contact with people always gives me energy, especially when discussing interiors.

I would like to stay independent and produce my products as locally as possible. I have developed a fantastic relationship with my local manufacturers. Everyone values each other’s work, and I know the products are always top quality.

I also like to minimise waste, so we only print and weave to order. We use any remnants for creative projects and collaborations with other companies. Nothing goes to waste.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2025, we look back at how Emma Vans Agnew started her pioneering online design business from a converted stable in her garden.

Folk art interior design is a trend that is here to stay. It celebrates techniques from across the world and provides a way to create meaningful, stylish interiors with personality.