A DESIGNER from Colchester has spoken of her pride after collaborating with one of the largest department store chains in the UK to produce a collection of homeware.
Lucy Tiffney teamed up with Debenhams to create the cookware and dining sets.
The collection features Lucy’s signature bold botanical prints alongside animals on a selection of items including egg cups, plates, tea sets and tins.
It is available online and in 80 stores across the country.
The runner-up in 2016 Great Interior Design Challenge, shown on BBC 2, designs bespoke items of furniture and interiors for clients across the country.
She said: “I did a showcase called Pulse at Olympia in London and Debenhams were there. That was about 18 months ago.
“They approached me there and said they had seen my work.
“About a year ago they called me in and the design process started. It takes time and works in a way I wasn’t used to.”
Lucy said she had enjoyed the work of designing the collection.
“I designed it about a year ago and then I worked with the design team,” she said.
“When they approached me they said it would be a cookware and dining collection and I liked the idea of it.
“They liked my print with the big botanicals and they asked me to create something bright and new to them using a different colour pallet.
“I suggested adding animals to make it a bit different from my normal collections.”
Born and brought up in Maldon, Lucy’s interest in art began at Thurstable School, in Tiptree, where the teachers let her and her friends use the art rooms at lunchtime.
After leaving she went to the Colchester Institute to take an art foundation course before going to Manchester Polytechnic where she got a first class degree in textiles.
Moving to London she took a studio manager’s job working for a rug designer. She moved to Colchester after 18 years working in the capital.
The designer said she was delighted to see the final product. “It was lovely and exciting as well. I was so pleased,” she said.
A launch event will take place in London today. Lucy also hopes to hold a special event in Debenhams in Colchester.
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