Emma Sookrah is a textiles designer that ‘aims to create a positive, confident feeling through design and to capture a spirit of personality.’ Her work ranges from designing bold print placements to creating embellished three dimensional surface textures.​​

How did you get into textiles?

I’ve always loved dressing in bold patterns, bright colours and fabrics with intricate details and a love for wearing textiles turned into creating them. I studied design at school and De Montfort University and being there brought out my creativity.

Tell me about the different textiles you work with?

I enjoy working with all sorts of materials, from luxury silks to metallic perspex. I like to experiment and sample as much as possible. I’ve worked with leather, wool, plastic, PVC, wire, organza, cotton, and fusible materials. I am currently working on a personal project focussing on sequin film, creating 3D textiles.

What’s your favourite to work with and why?

Sculptural textiles that I can mould are my favourite to work with, they allow me to take a 3D approach and create hand-crafted embellishments. I love the process of experimenting and how the possibilities are endless.

When did you start beading?

Beading is a new interest, I started a year ago whilst in my third year of university. 

What kind of needles do you use for your embellishments and where do you get them from?

I mainly use long beading needles from John Lewis as I work with a lot of long bugle beads and they are nice and sharp to work with thinner leathers. I source my embellishments from New Trimmings on Great Titchfield St, Josy Rose, and Simply Sequins.

What other textiles would you like to work with?

I would really like to experiment more with perspex, leather and incorporate screen printing foils and laser cutting.

I’ve spoken to a lot of textiles designers and many (myself included) have found it difficult to find jobs in the industry. Has this been the case for you? 

Yes, very difficult. I graduated last year, July 2016 so have only been in the industry a year. Undergoing several design internships has really helped, I am currently interning as a design assistant at bl-nk.

Where do you apply your surface decoration and what other surfaces would you like to apply your work on?

Clothes have always been a focus point, but recently I have been designing ideas for bags and jewellery.

What do you love about textiles?

I enjoy the creativity and working through the process from the beginning concept to a finished product. 

Follow Emma on Instagram and see more of her textiles here