Our passion is creative upholstery...
Bristol Upholstery Collective is an AMUSF Training Centre, Design & Upholstery Studio welcoming all to share in our collective passion for creative upholstery.
We believe in enjoying quality handmade processes and educating the value of sustainable Heritage Craft Skills.
We are traditional upholsterers, approved by the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers highly qualified and experienced, We all love the opportunities our upholstery practice brings and sharing our skills, introducing a new approach to the world of creative upholstery.
We utilise our expert skills, industry knowledge and contemporary design to produce high-end quality upholstery and training opportunities.
Our upholstery services include Artist Collaboration, designing and creating product ranges for Surface Pattern Designers, Embroidery Artists, Textile Designers, Painters, Interior Designers and commercial furniture designers.
We feel consumers need meaningful relationships with their possessions and so support the concept of 'New Materialism', promoting investment into products that are high quality, handmade locally, encouraging community resilience and making items that can be restored and maintained to last a lifetime.
We enjoy our creative, supportive and efficient workspace and school within a network of others who truly appreciate and love the upholstery practice, creating unique, environmentally friendly, statement products and interiors.
Meet the Team...
What’s your role in Bristol Upholstery Collective?
As Founder & Creative Director of Bristol Upholstery Collective, my role is to keep the company vision insight, develop a successful team, initiate new and exciting ideas, network accordingly, design, collaborations, do all of the ‘invisible stuff’ behind the scenes that a company requires, and of course, I teach the odd Upholstery Master Class. I’m a bit like the stuffing you are unaware of whilst sitting comfortably - working hard, holding the weight, and bouncing around where I need to.
When not in the workshop where are you?
Usually in an Art Gallery or an auditorium of a local theatre. I love live music performances and am a huge fan of contemporary dance. I get a lot of satisfaction from visually seeing the results of a lot of hard work and creativity in the community.
What are you most passionate about?
I’m most passionate about creative enterprise, with a keen focus on Heritage Craft and Well-Being. As a fellow of The School For Social Entrepreneurs, I have created Bristol Upholstery Collective as a Limited Company with key social values at its' core. I love Bristols' creative energy and like to support the Arts in all its' wonderful forms. Ours specifically, being chairs.
How did you get into upholstery?
After graduating with a Fine Art degree from Bristol UWE, I worked as a Community Artist and helped run The Old Duke Jazz Pub on Kings St. My well-being required a new skill to be introduced to my world and originally wanted to study Millinery. Having ripped off the seating fabric in the pub and ‘having a go’, I realised that there were tricks to upholstery and so I signed up to an upholstery course and the rest is history!
What's your favourite upholstery technique/process?
I especially enjoy a creative upholstery challenge these days and so my favourite projects to work on are those for BBC One Show ‘Money For Nothing’. I've been filming with them since 2016 and it never gets boring. The process challenges me to be inventive, brave, intuitive, unique and a little bit wild.
Leigh-Anne
What is it about upholstery that you are most passionate about?
In this trade, we have a chance to fight back against the throwaway culture that we find ourselves in. It gives me joy to restore a piece of furniture that may have otherwise ended up in landfill. I love the history behind the chairs that we upholster and how we can keep these stories going. I really love utilising natural materials and producing something that you know will last for decades.
When not in the workshop where are you?
Hopefully swimming in a lake or hanging out with my boys. Most likely cheering them on playing football or rugby!
What’s your role in Bristol Upholstery Collective?
I coordinate, plan the scheme of work and teach the AMSUF courses. Sharing my knowledge and helping people develop their own skills through my
teaching.
Harriet
How did you get into upholstery?
It all started when I attended an evening class run by Leigh Anne. My first project was a rocking chair with a drop-in seat and back that I had grown up with as a child. I almost instantly fell in love with the processes; from the woodwork through to choosing a beautiful fabric. I kept booking on to the classes. I then made the decision to have my career change from teaching and studied for my professional qualification the AMUSF diploma. It turned out to be a great decision as I now get to teach and upholster.
What's your favourite upholstery technique/process?
I'd say that I do love stitching an edge roll. Seeing and feeling the shape emerge. Upholstery is both tactile and visual and that is really satisfying.
What is it about upholstery that you are most passionate about?
I remember the first chair I stripped down and the buzz I got from unlocking its past. You never know what you’re going to get. Whether it's a lustrous brocatelle or a 60s nylon floral pattern. Each layer helps to build a narrative, which allows you to connect to the people, place, fashion and culture.
I have learnt so much from deconstructing chairs and seeing how upholsterers of the past have applied their expertise. I am passionate about the legacy of the upholsterer and understand the craft.
How did you get into upholstery?
In my previous life, as a northerner, I was an artist and art lecturer. When I moved to Bristol I enrolled in a 6-week upholstery course, at Bristol upholstery Collective hoping to learn a new skill and make some friends. After the first session, I was hooked, spending all my spare time tearing old chairs apart and trying my best to put them back together again. After a year or so I took the plunge, handed in my notice and became a full-time upholsterer.
What’s your favourite upholstery technique/process?
Definitely not removing staples! It has to be stitching the first stuffing. It's that point when the chair starts to take its form. It's such a physical process but has to be delivered with milometer precision. I tend to obsess about this part.
When not in the workshop what are you doing?
Exploring the Southwest and all its fabulous charity shops! Probably working on my own upholstery project, I told you, I’m hooked!
What’s your role in Bristol Upholstery Collective?
I am a Creative Upholster and AMUSF Tutor. Both roles go hand in hand, feeding into one another, inspiring both collaboration and learning.
Tom
How did you get into upholstery?
I am completely new to the world of upholstery! Every day I am learning more about tools and materials, as well as studying on an evening course to really get to grips with the fascinating world of upholstery!
What’s your favourite upholstery technique/process?
Top fabric obviously!
What’s your role in Bristol Upholstery Collective?
My role as the Studio Coordinator encompasses many things around the studio! I ensure the day-to-day running of the business is going smoothly, working closely with Leigh-Anne on many key areas of the collective.
What is it about upholstery that you are most passionate about?
At university, I studied surface pattern and printed textile design, so that's what really gets me going! Rifling through sample books and researching local, sustainable textile designers that I can support.
Kerri
When not in the workshop what are you doing?
Cooking up some delicious food for my housemates to try, particularly Thai. When I'm not in the kitchen I love to put on some funky clothes, go see live music and have a good ol' boogie!