Spot the designer - Faye Hall/ UK

 What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to be an art teacher, hairdresser or a vet!

 When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?

I am trained in textiles and worked many years creating high-end fabrics for both interior and fashion-based clients. It was after the birth of my first son when I decided to leave that part of the industry and try to set something up for myself, not working for a studio. I began embroidering into small scale pieces that I could transport around the house (where the baby was sleeping!) and I began to see the beauty in creating small, intimate sized pieces that could be worn. I still love being able to combine my textiles skills with creating tactile and wearable objects.

 What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view? 

After a while of working with primarily scrap leather, I began to get itchy feet and felt the need to explore a wider range of offcut material or material with a different quality. These pieces were just samples that I created over a quiet week around Christmas, where I was just playing around and winding down the studio time, and the combination of the ebony with the Formica joined so securely with just stitch alone was a real pivotal point for me in the way that I work now.

 How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?

I have two small children so my batteries are always switched on, ha! But I do really try hard to attain some balance and to get that needed downtime. I always find that after a week off from creative work I am desperate to get back making something, so having a break revives me, as well as tuning out for a bit with dog walks, outdoor swims and reading. I also really enjoy making clothes for myself, and this year I am determined to finally make a quilt!

What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?

I have a fondness for traditional craftsmanship and techniques and at present, all my pieces are made by hand with traditional processes. I like that I have total control, but yet I can create something contemporary with techniques that are very traditional, such as embroidery stitches and hand cutting.

 Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?

A couple of years ago I began to explore biomaterial and I never fully investigated it deeply enough. I would love to try to use more biomaterials within my work as a base material, or I would really love to try to create a bio-yarn to stitch with! I am very aware of the impact of consumables on the planet, and I still try as much as I can to use scrap offcuts from other makers, or material with imperfections that I can work with instead of throwing away. But I know I could do more, and I am trying to find ways in which to achieve an even ‘kinder’ product.

 How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?

It took a while to adjust to having both children at home all the time, my husband working from home, and generally things shifting. It was a horrible time in terms of the pandemic claiming so many lives, and its impact on wellbeing and mental health, but I did find it soothing to slow down a little bit. The pressure to make and make to fulfill orders or shows dissipated and I found myself able to give myself ‘lockdown challenges’ such as creating pieces using found materials or being able to spend longer amounts of time on my embroidery collages. It has definitely made me reevaluate my practice in the business sense too, as well as seeing even more so the beauty in the creative community. 

How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?

I see that it reacts so well to change. Contemporary jewellery will always adapt to change and respond accordingly. Creatives will continue to push material boundaries and cross-disciplinary approaches. It’s exciting!

 Find more about the designer Faye Hall