MEET TAMASYN GAMBELL
Tamasyn Gambell trained in printed textiles at Chelsea College of Arts and the Royal College of Art, experimenting with both fashion and interior print design.
She has worked in Paris for high-end companies such as Louis Vuitton, and Sonia Rykiel, trend agencies Nelli Rodi, Promostyle, and WGSN and high street brand H&M as a women’s-wear print designer.
In both high end and high street fashion Tamasyn felt frustrated with the amount of waste and lack of innovation. The fast paced and mass produced fashions available today leave little time for reflection and so she decided to set up a company that would strive to produce luxurious considered designs whilst upholding a responsibility to work in the most environmentally and socially responsible methods available.
Tamasyn believes in high quality, timeless design using the most eco friendly methods available and has invested a lot of time finding suppliers who provide eco friendly products of the highest quality. It is Tamasyn's belief that style does not have to suffer in order to be environmentally friendly and that designers should all be working with eco friendly methods without compromising style or quality.
Fabrics are sourced from Europe, hand-screen printed in her studio using water based pigments. Production runs are kept small to minimise waste and surplus goods. Large print runs are screen printed by a small family run factory in Europe. All products are made in the UK; lampshades from Kent, cushions from a social project in London and notebooks from a co-operative printer in East London. With leftover printed fabric, she makes patchwork quilts, which she mixes with her own screen-printed vintage blankets, creating a wonderful friction between old and new.
Tamasyn's designs are based on a love of art, graphic design and architecture. She is an avid market goer and has always collected vintage prints, books, papers, packaging, clothes and tins which have always been a huge inspiration. Her father collected vintage rugs and her childhood home was filled with colour. She would go on trips to the Tate with him at weekends where he opened her eyes to artists, designers and movements who still inspire her today.
The desire to explore shape, repeating patterns and juxtaposing colours allows Tamasyn to develop her practice and produce collections of printed fabric and homewares. Also working with upholsterers who transform vintage pieces using her screen-printed fabrics, bringing them back to life.
Tamasyn lives and works in Leytonstone and is part of the Good Shepherd Studios - a co-working and community space with creative arts at its core.
After laying empty for years the building needed love and attention. The main auditorium space was earmarked to be used for community film screenings, refugee story and supper clubs, artists workshops and more, but needed redecorating. Tamasyn was commissioned to design, screen-print and make the blinds and cushions to give the space life and warmth. Tamsym was offered a studio space last year being part of the campaign to save the building from demolition in 2020. 
She shares a top floor studio with Daniel Heath, a fellow screen printer.
Tamasyn Gambell will be exhibiting at the Selvedge Fair, Bath on 9 September 2023. Book your ticket on the Selvedge website www.selvedge.org.
Find out more about Tamasyn Gambell's work here:
www.tamasyngambell.com
@tamasyngambell
Images courtesy of Tamasyn Gambell