About Marc
Ethos
Marc has a history going back some 30 years in working with textiles, wools, upholstery, soft furnishing and even teaching design abroad. His work ethos is full of passion and he strives to ensure each item that he produces, whether this be off the shelf or bespoke design is of the highest standard possible.
Marc trained at Leeds College of Art and Design before going on to teach at the Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology. He specialised in couture techniques and worked alongside many international designers to perfect his craft. Marc has also worked in retail ranging from high end fashion stores to charity based retail. He has also worked as lead designer/studio manager for several leading interior design companies and now works as an upholsterer and craftsperson.
Marc was diagnosed during his degree as profoundly deaf and had struggled throughout his earlier years of secondary and higher education, and leading to terrible depression. One day his tutor commented on the noises around and realised Marc might have hearing problems he was referred for review at St James University Hospital Leeds. He has worn hearing aids since his early twenties, but his hearing had been getting progressively worse until he was left with around 4% hearing. He was chosen to receive a Cochlear Implant in late 2013 and this has helped return his hearing levels almost completely back to normal.
Marc's founding business principles are clearly evident to anyone who meets with him. He follows the simple philosophy of ensuring good quality products, being passionate about the way the product is sourced and produced and always listening to what the client wants will ensure that they receive the best service possible.
Marc believes that credit is not always a good thing, as this causes small businesses to struggle against the bigger players commercially. He works with a keen eye on the finances allowing Marc to pay his small local suppliers quickly and with minimal financial disruption to them.
Marc says
"The founding pillars of the business is the commitment to the longevity of design as apposed to the mass market "tut and tat" that has dominated the last 30 years. As we seek to minimise our impact on the planet and our environment I am always seeking new ways to be sustainable - often returning to the method of the past. Albeit an often slower process its impact is minimised and encourages many other small suppliers to create a circular economy."
The Arts and Crafts Movement developed in 19th-century Britain as a rebellion against the fashion for inventive sham and over elaborate design and as an attempt to reverse the growing dehumanisation of work in society. It was based in simple forms, truth to materials and the use of nature as a source of pattern
(source Arts and Crafts Museum).
Developing on from those ideals, that later developed into a political manifesto we are now seeing a return to the celebration of the craftsman. The re-use and re-cycle movement is bringing us back to nature as we seek to reverse the damage we have done to the planet. Marc strives to produce or re-imagine lasting pieces that are diametrically opposed to the mass market throw away desires of the fashion elite. Machinery is embraced, yet mastered to enable a superior product to be created and the use of chemicals, energy and waste byproducts kept to a minimum.
Marc continues to not only perfect his craft but also develop his body of work. Current projects include clothing design, lifestyle accessories and even gloves.
"we really are a backward brand! Most brands start with clothes and end up with wallpaper and here I am starting with chairs and building a sustainable lifestyle brand."
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