MEET THE Maker: Lora Avedian
Our second ‘Meet the Maker’ is the very talented Lora Avedian. Lora has worked as a set designer and prop stylist for about six years where she realised her passion for textiles. In 2015 Lora decided to change her career by doing Mixed Media Textiles MA at the Royal College of Art. Since then, Lora has been working hard on lots of new projects which we will hear a lot more about below.
So Lora, what inspires your work?
It’s a lot of different elements that come together really, it can be different for different projects but generally I look at historical textiles and other kinds of objects in museums or things I collect second hand. Sometimes I look at fashion, other times I get inspired by photography, it can be one thing for colour, another for the texture or material use.
What’s the most important part of your process?
Finding the right materials and colour is a big part of it, and drawing is also really important for my embroidery designs.
What has been your favourite collaboration?
My favourite collaborations are working with photographers to create a narrative around the project or product I have made. I love working with photographers and I style the work myself, so we work really closely together on the project. I particularly love working on projects with Suzie Howell, her style of photography and use of light is so beautiful. She worked with me on my final RCA collection, and I felt our styles worked really well together.
What are you most proud of?
I am really proud of the project I did a few years ago with the Barbican Centre, As part of a residency I did there they asked me to design their first ever Christmas decorations around the centre which was unheard of until then. I am also really proud of the embroidery book I have written over lock down, and is being published on the 20th May by Hardie Grant Publishing.
It’s been a difficult year for us all, what’s one piece of advice you would give a new creative?
Keep working hard and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Do your own thing and if you’re passionate about it people will see that and want to be a part of it. Also don’t be ashamed to talk about what you do to people, and shout about yourself on whatever social media you like, Instagram has been an amazing business tool for me and really helped me engage with people in a way I never thought I would.
What do you find the biggest challenge about running your own business?
Keeping up with everything and making time to look after myself and rest! I am a bit of a work-a-holic… I also find it hard to say no to things, but I am getting better at that.
How can we get our hands on some of your pieces and watch your journey?
I updated my website to include my shop www.loraavedian.com, you can buy some of my textiles from The New Craftsmen, and you can follow me on @loraavedian on Instagram.
What’s next in store for Lora Avedian?
Apart from my new book, I have a collaboration with the V&A coming out in Autumn of this year, and a collaboration with a small fashion brand I am really excited about. More workshops and teaching at West Dean College in the summer. It’s going to be a busy year!
We loved exploring Lora’s beautiful hand embroidery. We have already pre ordered our copy of her new book ‘Stitch In Bloom’ and have our eye on her workshops!
Our next ‘ Meet The Maker’ is Tom Collison who creates beautiful crafted furniture out of wood.
Next ‘Meet the Maker’ will be posted on the 27th of June 2021.