Meeting Melanie Bowles of The People’s Print

Last week we sat down with Melanie Bowles, a London based textile designer and Senior Lecturer at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Melanie, who’s main concentration is digital textile design, is also the author of the well known industry resource book, Digital Textile Design, and co-founder with Dr Emma Neuberg of The People’s Print—an open source community for like-minded people who have a passion for textile design. Not only is The People’s Print a go to resource for digital textile design, but they also stay immersed in current culture, partnering with notable museums and organizations such as the V&A Museum, Fespa digital, Computer Arts, VF Corporation, Contrado Imaging and countless Universities.

We’re excited to announce that Melanie and The People’s Print just completed yet another inspiring and informative book, Print Make Wear—Creative Projects for Digital Textile Designs, which will launch in Spring/Summer 2015 under the publisher Laurence King. This book will serve as a creative toolbox, empowering people to create their own patterns while promoting digital fabric printing. In it you’ll find a collection of tutorials—sourced partially from designers associated with The People’s Print—each one ending in a completed garment and leaving the reader with a groundwork of design knowledge so that they can more confidently design their individual creative visions.

Like First2Print, the People’s Print is devoted to promoting digital textile printing, not just as a means of production, but as a more limitless medium for individual creative expression. Bespoke printing—unlike mass production—counters the effects that mass consumerism and fast fashion can have on our environment, product development and creative freedom, something our team at First2Print can definitely agree on. This autumn People’s Print is excited to be moving into a studio space at The Somerset House where they will be a part of the Makerversity creative hub based there. Makerversity and the beautiful space that is the Somerset House is perfectly situated in the heart of London, where London Fashion Week takes place, right on the Thames and a short walk to the Hayward Gallery, Tate Modern and Shakespeare Globe. Once settled into their new digs they plan to do workshops and lectures that tie in with events and exhibitions in London, making it the perfect environment and community for making digital textiles truly accessible to all. Melanie was as lovely in person as we thought she’d be based on our love for her Digital Textile Design book and People’s Print organization. She’s the type of creative who is driven but very much for collaboration and promoting a positive relationship with design for anyone who wants it. The People’s Print provides tutorials, workshops, lectures, print inspiration and industry resources, accessible to all, rather than restricted to paid subscribers, and that is something to love.