A 100 Year Old Textile Mill Encouraged This Young Entrepreneur to Start Her Own Business

One of my very favourite parts of my job as an interior designer is spending afternoons roaming the aisles of fabric stores. I have such an appreciation for the art, and love how each one tells its own unique story. Needless to say, when Fayce Textiles agreed to be our next guest in our maker series, I was pretty pumped. Her work is some that I’ve admired for years now, and it’s an honour to be sharing a behind the scenes peek at it all.

If there are any other makers or entrepreneurs you’d like me to feature in this series, please let me know in the comments below. And feel free to check out the others out here!

How did you get started creating textiles?

I have always loved textiles and various types of printmaking and drawing methods. In the past I experimented with intaglio, letterpress, lithography, monoprinting and eventually found my way towards screen printing, which I began dabbling with in my basement. I knew I wanted to create textiles but coming from a Commercial Illustration background, I wasn’t quite sure how to break into the home décor textile market. I began doing a ton of research, picking the brains of various Interior Designers, visiting showrooms and apprenticing at a textile company until I gathered as much information I could to start my own company. Working with vendors as close by as possible was and still is important to me. I found and toured a 100+ year old New England textile mill that hand screen prints fabric yardage, I fell in love with the process and began designing my first collection.

Where is your workspace and what do you love most about it?

My studio is in Easthampton, MA in an old factory building. I am on the top floor and I am lucky enough to have a mountain view. My favorite part of the studio, besides being surrounded by fabric and wallpaper, is looking out of the large windows at the mountains through the changing seasons. There is a Blue Heron that lives nearby and I get to see it fly past my windows almost daily. I am starting to out grow this space a bit, but it would be really hard for me to leave it one day.

What is the process to create one of your designs?

I almost always start each collection or single pattern with a broad idea such as fashion or architecture. I then start honing in on exactly what it is that inspires me about the broad topic by making a bunch of lists and going to my local library to dive deeper into the subject. Looking through and reading a variety of books on the subject outside of my studio is super helpful. The peace and quiet of the library and the fact that there is designated time to develop ideas has proven to be the most important part of my brainstorming process. I think because I come from an Advertising and Illustration background, having a narrative for each pattern is really important to me. Once I have my concrete ideas, I start the designing process. I draw all of my patterns using charcoal pencils which provide a nice texture and a good amount of control over my line work. Charcoal lines translate nicely into the screen printing process which is ultimately how most of my designs get printed. Once I have the finalized drawings, I create the repeats digitally and then send the files to the screen engraver for fabric and the wallpaper printer for the grasscloth and wallpaper designs.

What’s the most popular textile design in your shop, and what inspired it?

I have two patterns that are basically tied for the most popular, PINES and LAPEL. Pines was inspired by cozy winter days filled with snow and views of pine trees off in the distance. Lapel was inspired by the design and construction of a fine bespoke suit.

How do you stay organized?

Hmm… that’s a constant work in progress.

What colors, textures, and materials are inspiring you right now?
I am often inspired by the beauty in everyday materials and sites. The vast farmland around the corner from my home, the brick facades of the surrounding factory buildings, tall grasses in any of the seasons, markings found on old, weathered wood to name a few. I try to keep things simple, down to earth and honest during these not so honest or simple times.

When it comes to your own home, what do you like your space to feel like?

I really like when there is little to no clutter in my home. My partner is a ceramic artist so we are surrounded by a good mix of porcelain and textiles. Luckily our aesthetic works well together. We have a mix of old and new and we try to surround ourselves mostly with objects of meaning. Our small house was built in the mid-1800’s, so there are some quirks to say the least and very little room for extras.

What upcoming project are you most excited to work on right now?
I am always excited to develop new wallpaper and textile designs. I am also working on some new one-of-a-kind embroidered pillows that I plan on launching this coming Winter. I love working on these embroidered goods because I can be a bit more expressive since they are one-of-a-kind and limited editions. Playing around with color, texture and composition through thread challenges me to create patterns in a whole different way and I love a good challenge!

I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for…


My own personal gumption!

Photography: Joanna Chattman | Textiles & Wallpaper: FAYCE Textiles