Coffee With... The Design Archives Sharon Crowson

Can you talk us through how the process works from selecting a design from the archive to finished product?

The creative and development process is what I enjoy most, I have to narrow down the design or collection choice to a genre or designer or theme which is very difficult as I am inspired by so many in the archive.

The designs then have to be separated for print either digitally and /or for screening. It is after this process I can begin to experiment with colouring the design which has been made so much easier and quicker with the digital technology of today. I usually know exactly what I envisage as far as colouring a design is concerned. On the rare occasion translation a design from paper to fabric just doesn’t work for me. Choosing the base cloths for a design is also important, different designs suit different cloths. It is certainly a very subjective process and  a collection can take months to finalise.

Growing up in the interiors world, did you always think you’d end up creating your own brand? Do any of your children work with you or could you see them working with The Design archives in the future?

This is a good question I was told at 16/17 when I left school I was to come and work in my Fathers business. Learning the basics, from office admin and sales through to the manufacturing process, my father micro managed everything and I learnt from him. His creative eye for design and colour was legendary, I have inherited this instinctive eye and tend to follow and trust my lead when developing designs.

I had no plans to end up running my own brand, it all happened organically after my Father retired. Crowson had acquired other brand names along he way and The historic brand name of ’The Design Archives’ fitted with what I wanted to do with developing designs from the Archive.

I am the end of the textile line in the family as both my sons are in finance.

Bold use of colour is synonymous with The Design Archives brand, where does your passion for colour originate from? 

I love colour and design in all formats. I have always been creative and have eclectic tastes and passions, be it in fashion, music or art, life is rich and colourful, as with anything it's all in the balance!

Additionally, It doesn’t always have to be strong colour, use of colour is important to reflect moods and certain designs needs stronger colour to bring to their full potential, others require more subtle colouring.