Featured Seller: Emma Highfield

EmmaHighfield

Story by EmmaHighfield

Published on Jan 27, 2012 in Shop

Photo by Emma Highfield

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Te Puke, a small rural town in New Zealand and moved to Auckland (New Zealand) when I was 17 to find my independence and pursue my dreams of becoming an artist. After completing a bachelor’s in fine art, followed by a graduate diploma of secondary teaching, I decided the only way for me to be truly happy in my craft was if I was working for myself. The Emma Highfield lingerie brand was born, and I have never looked back. I live with my husband Steven and our cat Pepper.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love music, theatre, ballet and any form of performance with amazing, over-the-top costuming, so I try to get to as many shows as I can. I also enjoy hosting dinner parties, cupcake brunches with my girlfriends, and eating out — pretty much anything involving delicious food!

What would be the title of your memoir? 
Stitch by Stitch. Working for yourself and creating a business from scratch is definitely something that requires persistence and passion. It is like hand-sewing; methodical and time consuming, but you feel an amazing sense of pride and achievement when you start to see results. I am excited that this journey is only just beginning. However, there are many more stitches yet to come.

Where does your inspiration come from?
My husband (who is the hardest working person I have ever met) inspires me daily. He has taught me the importance of loving the job you do and encouraged me to pursue my dreams of starting my own business. My work is inspired by textiles, textures and vintage lingerie aesthetics. I think no matter what I am doing I am always being creative. It’s like a switch that never turns off. Everything I see and the people around me are constantly inspiring. The smallest things can spark an idea.

What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade is special as it is a product of love. I believe anything handmade is something that should be treasured as it is unique and can never be duplicated exactly.

Who has been most influential in your craft?
My grandmothers were hugely influential in my love of fabrics and sewing. They taught me how to hand-stitch, knit and use a sewing machine as a young girl. My customers and clients frequently influence me. Someone often spots a discarded design in my sewing studio and shows excitement. This encourages me to re-think previously overlooked concepts.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?
I spent my entire childhood creating. My sisters and I were always painting, making doll clothing, sewing, knitting, woodwork, anything artistic! I was brought up in a very creative environment, and my love of the arts was always embraced and encouraged. I remember thinking it was unusual that people would buy things they could easily make themselves, until I discovered that artists and creatives are like athletes and scientists in the sense we all have a different passion and skill set. I think this realization made me aware I was in fact an artist.

How would you describe your creative process?
I guess you could say my process is very back to front as I start by buying fabrics first. I look for fabrics that are of high quality, will complement other chosen textiles and have interesting and eye-catching prints and textures. I am usually always without a doubt drawn to beautiful lace. From here I start designing, drawing concepts and drafting patterns. I let the fabrics speak to me and I picture how it will transpire into a lingerie piece.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
Colleen Atwood or Ngila Dickson, I can’t decide. Two of the world’s most outstanding costume designers, in my opinion.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
My father is a wood craftsman and created the most beautiful Rimu table for my 21st birthday. It is cleverly constructed from 21 panels and is perfectly made. It is something I will have and treasure forever.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
I usually find I have too many ideas and the problem is trying to find the time to make all the concepts that are floating around in my head and scribbled in my sketchbook. If I am working on a particular pattern and get stuck, I just keep working. Mistakes present challenges and I work at my best when I push myself to solve a problem and discover the solution. Provided that fails, I venture out fabric shopping, buy a heap of random materials, and then sew with no intentions and no end result in mind, just completely fun and free-flowing. This is usually when I come up with my best concepts and new patterns.

Where would you like to be in ten years?
In a bigger studio space still doing what I love! I hope to see my business grow and evolve to include a broader spectrum of sizes, styles and the possibility of swimwear, maternity lingerie, and a “Highfield Man” range. Alternatively, I would like to be in the film industry as a costume designer. Whatever it may be, I know it will be doing something creative!

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