What 25 Years as a Creative Entrepreneur Has Taught Me.

When I first started out designing homewares, I was a young textile designer in London, excited and a little nervous about where this career might take me. I could never have imagined that it would lead me from design studios to factories around the world, and into the homes of millions of people through the products I helped create.

Over 25 years, I’ve designed and sourced for some of the UK’s most loved retailers, founded my own brand, and travelled across continents working with talented makers. It’s been a journey filled with creativity, challenges, and lessons that continue to shape how I work today.

Here are five things 25 years in homewares has taught me:

Creativity and commerce must live together.
The most successful products balance beauty with function and price. It’s not enough for something to look good — it has to work for the customer, and for the business.

2. Relationships matter more than contracts.
Factories, suppliers, buyers — the people you work with shape everything. Trust and respect build stronger partnerships than any piece of paper ever could.

3. Trends come and go, but quality lasts.
I’ve seen endless design trends rise and fall, but what endures is craftsmanship and attention to detail. Quality never goes out of style.

4. Building a brand takes resilience.
Launching ALSO Home taught me that passion fuels the journey, but resilience keeps you going. Brands are built over years, not overnight.

5. Sharing the journey matters.
For years I kept my work behind the scenes. Now I see the value in sharing not just the products, but the stories, travels and lessons behind them. That’s what truly inspires.

25 years has taught me that designing and producing homewares is about more than objects — it’s about creativity, connection, and creating spaces that feel like home. And I’m excited to keep sharing this journey with you.