CUSTOM MADE EVERYTHING! BEHIND THE SCENES AT SPOONFLOWER. EPISODE #4 OF THREAD CULT
by Daughter Fish
A little over a year ago, I ran across the website for Spoonflower, a North Carolina-based company that’ll print anything you want on fabric. In some ways, this discovery was a minor dream come true for me, as I’ve lusted after so many vintage textiles over the years that I’ve longed to recreate for my own projects (not that I would steal someone else’s design…just, you know, modify!). Mr. Fish and I collaborated on the apron up top , a bear-skull-and-palm-tree camo print he designed from one of his pictures, and that I had made into fabric at Spoonflower and sewed into an apron (which I later sold on Etsy).
When I knew I was going to start my podcast, I thought immediately of interviewing Stephen Fraser, the co-founder of Spoonflower, who I’d met at a BurdaStyle party last year. Not only was I interested in how Spoonflower started, but I wanted to know how Stephen and his team run a small textile manufacturing business domestically in a time when most textiles (and everything else!) are produced across the globe.
In this episode of Thread Cult, Stephen and I chat about all of the above, including Spoonflower’s newest venture into making custom wallpaper and wall decals. I’ve seen some of this decor popping up around the internet lately. I particularly love Heather Ross’s prints for kids’ rooms, examples of which you can see on her blog.
Also, you can now subscribe to Thread Cult on iTunes! So if you want these ‘casts delivered straight to your devices, subscribe:)
Hope you enjoy!
Episode #4: The Story Behind Spoonflower
Links:
North Carolina State College of Textiles
Ponoko (3-D printing)
Shapeways (3-D printing)
Intro: fordhahm_nonnanonna, written and recorded by FakeShamus
Outro: Trompe, written and recorded by The Accommodators
Great podcast. I have heard of Spoonflower but I have never used it personally. They’re a great company and I love how they are a domestic company but offer affordable rates. That sometimes doesn’t go hand in hand in this society.
Thanks, Maddie! You should definitely check out Spoonflower if you have a specific print in mind!
I work in textile design but of course I am designing for a specific market, I would love to print some fabrics that I personally love from original art work. Can’t wait to listen!