'By Alex'

Country-style home accessories all made by hand in pretty fabrics

Following time spent working in the fashion industry, Northamptonshire-based Alex Gates found that her passion for textiles meant that she was yearning to work more hands-on with fabrics. She took the leap to set up her own business in April of 2009 and started with a range of lavender hearts.
Your designs in a nutshell: good old country cottage charm with special handmade finishing touches.
What do you love about what you do? I love creating new designs. Adding a touch of colour to a tired chair with, say, a Vintage Jack cushion, really inspires me.
Favourite piece? The lavender hearts hold a special place in my heart as they were the first things I made and are the seeds of my business.
Lightbulb moment: seeing my bunting hanging at a garden party and feeling proud that my designs were making people smile.