We are delighted to present an interview with the talented British designer Victoria Cronin. In this week’s blog post, we delve into her colourful universe and we learn more about her design process, inspiration, and creative vision that make her lamps statement pieces in any room. Are you ready to be lit up?
Can you shortly introduce yourself?
My name is Victoria Cronin, I am a British designer and have been living in Dubai for nearly 8 years now.
What you do for a living?
I run a boutique design studio with a vision to use sustainable and ethically sourced, artisanal craftsmanship to create exquisite home and lifestyle products. I also teach Architecture at American University in Dubai.
What brought you to this activity?
I am a trained architect but after moving to Dubai I embarked upon interior design and have now expanded into product design.
What inspired you to start using fabric to make lamps, and how did you get started with this type of design?
I was looking for some gathered fabric lampshades for my own home and could not find any local suppliers, so I started making them myself. I like to use artisanal textiles such as hand woven ikat silk from Uzbekistan and hand block printed cottons from India. I have now expanded my collection to drum shaped lampshades and am now designing and manufacturing my own range of lamp bases.
Can you walk us through your designing process for creating a fabric lampshade, from conceptualization to end product?
For my studio collections, I first select the fabric and consider its suitability for a smooth or gathered lampshade. Colour and pattern is also very important as I need to consider how it will coordinate within an interior design scheme. If it is a custom lampshade commission, then often the client will have a colour or fabric in mind. I will then help guide them on the proportions for their lamp base and the choice of any trims or adornments.
How do you choose the fabrics you use in your lamps, and what qualities do you look for in a fabric when selecting it for a lamp design?
Fabric selection is very important when constructing a lampshade. For gathered shades, the fabric has to be relatively fine and flexible as it needs to be hand stitched into a cotton bound frame. Often the needle needs to penetrate a number of layers of fabric. It also helps to have a fabric that does not fray a lot, as for smooth shades, the fabric needs to be tucked in around the edges of the frame so we cannot have fibres coming loose. Thicker fabrics such as velvets and loosely woven fabrics such as linen are much harder to work with, although not impossible.
Some silks are difficult to work with, particularly for adhesion to lampshade panels, because any lumps, bumps or bubbles in the fabric will become obvious. Also, a loosely woven fabric such as linen is very tricky. I often use a diluted PVA glue in order to stop the fraying edges.
How do you approach the use of color and pattern in your fabric lamp designs, and what impact do these design elements have on the end product?
The scale and repeat of a pattern is a big consideration. I have to ensure that the pattern is visible and appropriate for the dimensions of the lampshade otherwise some details can get lost. Some patterns are better for table lamps rather than pendant shades, so the viewing angle and height also needs to be thought about. If the lampshade is to be gathered, then obviously the pattern on the fabric will be lost somewhat as the fabric folds. However this is also an opportunity to create a different visual effect. For example a gathered ikat is lovely.
Regarding colour choices, the impact of the exterior shade colour needs to fit the room within with the shade with be situated. However, the effect of light shining through a fabric is also very important to consider. Equally, the colour of the lining of a lampshade can also make an impact on the diffusion of light.
What role does sustainability play in your design philosophy, and how do you incorporate sustainable practices into your lamp-making process?
Whenever possible, I do try and recover old lampshade frames. The shade structure panel I use are made of recyclable PVC. As lampshades don’t need a huge amount of fabric, it is possible to reuse textiles, even old dresses or scarves to create a lampshade. I also ensure that my packaging is all recyclable. I feel that a hand made item for the home, and particularly one that uses artisanal hand crafted fabrics, has more longevity. Rather than picking up a machine glued cheap lampshade from Ikea, using a silk gathered lampshade in your home will age better as it is a more timeless design and I hope could even be passed down generations.
Where do you find your creativity?
Gosh what an interesting question, I’ve never thought about it before! I suppose it is just instinctive. I just feel the constant urge to create but I do need the time and to be in a relaxed mindset to work. I feel most relaxed when I have a connection with nature. I found this very hard when we first moved to Dubai, but after creating my dream garden and collecting a menagerie of pets, I am very happy amongst the palm trees and green parrots. This certainly helps to get my creative juices flowing! Travel is also a constant inspiration for me. I love to learn about different cultures’ patterns, design and also often look to history for inspiration.
How to contact Victoria?
You can find out more about Victoria’s work on Instagram under @victoriacroninstudio or on her website www.victoriacronin.com
Looking for quality fabrics? head now to our e-shop La Cotonnerie
