Upholstery Masterclass FOCUS 23
It’s September and that can only mean one thing here at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour… it’s FOCUS week. In celebration of London Design Festival and the festivities throughout the Design Centre, we of course joined in and hosted our very own upholstery masterclass with none other than the legendary, Ray Clarke. We also took the opportunity to officially launch our latest and most luxurious collection to date, Couture.
During a very windy afternoon last week, we invited interior designers across the country to join us for prosecco and canapes whilst they soaked up the intricacies and art of bespoke upholstery, with ARC.
With over seventeen years’ experience, Ray is an upholsterer and soft furnisher based in East London, who provides a range of upholstery services, including the creation of bespoke upholstery, re-upholstery and soft furnishings/original textile print designs using both traditional and modern techniques.
Ray talked through and demonstrated the elaborate art to upholstering and the years of crafting and refinement these skills required. He explained in detail the variations in traditional vs modern techniques as well as the different materials and methods used. Particularly important for interior designers, Ray described how to layer for comfort and wear, as well UV protection, sustainable options and fire safety regulations.
“I always want to give back to the piece of furniture, so that when it leaves my workshop it’ll last another 100 years. I want to be able to pass on what I’ve learnt, as it’s knowledge I’ve acquired. It’s not mine, but instead hundreds of years of experience and I’m just a temporary custodian which I’d like to pass on.”
Ray’s passion, love and respect for his craft are a testament to his popularity and our guests were captivated by his story. Visit Ray’s website rayclarkeupholstery.com and follow him on Instagram @atelierrayclarke.
Ray’s engaging masterclass included demonstrations of upholstery layering, using Chase Erwin’s newly launched ‘Couture’ collection. The high-fashion inspired collection takes inspiration from the haute couture runways of Paris and is perfectly crafted for upholstery, as well as drapery and soft accessories.
Inspired by the French fashion capital and exclusive international fashion shows, the new collection is available in five sophisticated designs: Coco, Nouveau, Seine, Vogue, and Parisienne. Hand crafted in a chic colour palette of soft pastels and muted neutral tones, the designs mirror the elegant and dreamy aesthetic of the city of Paris.
Available in a range of seven sophisticated colourways for each of the five designs, featuring fabrics in a sophisticated mix of yarns including wool, cotton, linen, viscose and silk, offering a versatile collection of 35 fabrics.
The new collection is available now and stocked in the United Kingdom, guaranteeing fast delivery for design projects. For more information on the new Chase Erwin Couture collection, please visit our ‘Fabrics’ section on the website for details or visit the Chase Erwin showroom at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.