Step into the world of Eleanor Fausing, a British fabric designer, full of botanical and floral prints, with fine and delicate lines, flourishes of colour amongst muted backdrops. Her technique, using mostly hand drawn designs, enables her to express the inspiration fed from her experiences in the natural world. As Eleanor says, “nature…be at peace.” We agree, because there is an overwhelming feeling of calm, serenity, and peace from Eleanor’s art.

Eleanor became enthused by textiles at the early age of 10 whilst studying, by being introduced to screen printing and sewing. She has further developed her skills to include different forms of printing, lino printing, lampshade making, and upholstery. The majority of her products are hand drawn flora, with painting and mark-making to refine her style, printed on 100% linen, using pattern repeats.

Eleanor feels it is important to carry a sustainability ethos within her business model. She says, “Work with nature.” Her commitment is to supply a quality product but also sustainable, so she uses digital printing, biodegradable packaging, and 100% flax linen. All of these choices means she is limiting water wastage, reducing landfill waste, and using less chemicals. Which also means all her products are OEKO-TEX certified.

Eleanor uses the ‘Member of ACID’ logo with expertise, having a link at the bottom of her homepage called ‘Copyright’. Once on the page, a large ACID logo is displayed, with a variety of intellectual property statements, letting viewers know she takes her rights seriously. This acts as a strong deterrence. She also uploads many of her designs on the ACID IP Databank to ensure her work is lodged and protected.

You say your textile journey started when you were 10. What inspired you at such an early age? And what elements of textile design drew you into a creative career?

I was very fortunate to have the most inspirational textiles teacher. I’ve always been a perfectionist and loved to work with colour and this was really celebrated in my school textiles department. Since I was young, I have been able to spot patterns and textures around me which is why I love to study the natural world to create my prints.

Your beautiful designs often feature nature, what inspires you about the natural world? And how important is sustainability to your design process?

My love for the natural world stems from feeling relaxed in the outdoors. As a perfectionist, I have used nature and outdoor sport all my life to be at peace and find inspiration. I used to be a full-time ski instructor and my dedication for sustainability really comes from that. I have seen first-hand how glaciers have been melting and the winter seasons have become more unpredictable weather wise. This sparked an interest in being more eco-friendly in my personal life which has then translated into how I set up my design business. Learning more each day about sustainability has now become a big interest for me.

What are your favourite mediums and tools to work with when designing prints? And why?

I love to experiment with different types of printing: lino block, screen & digital; but I feel most comfortable drawing with pen and inks. Therefore, many of my prints feel very “hand-drawn”. I love the use of “line” to create textures – I think it creates a very raw/delicate feel.

Did you have any knowledge of intellectual property when you started your business?

I found out little bits about intellectual property when I started, although I found all the information very overwhelming. I didn’t know which things I needed to do which related to my own business.

Which ACID Membership services have you used and how have you benefited from being a Member?

I have lodged many designs on the ACID IP Databank and I also use it as a tool to find out more about IP rights. I also use the ACID logo on my website which let’s people know how seriously I take IP rights.  The membership has also been great as I have found other designers/makers through the ACID social media pages/emails.

Have you created anything new and exciting you would like to share with us?

I have just released my first interior fabric collection, FOLIUM. Beautiful botanic prints on 100% linen. Head over to www.eleanorfausing.co.uk or my social media @eleanorfausingtextiles to have a look.

What is the best aspect of ACID Membership for your business?

The knowledge you can access from ACID. It’s hard to be able to know what information is relevant and what to prioritise without the help from those who are experienced with IP rights. Being able to use ACID as a resource helps save time when needing to find information.

What advice would you offer to a new designer?

Protect your designs as soon as you can. Once you post an image on social media, it’s out in the world and you have no control over it. If you can legally claim ownership of a design, it makes the process a lot easier if you ever have something copied.

Do you think that copying of designs is deliberate and blatant?

I get upset when I see someone’s work blatantly copied. It’s happened to some of my colleagues in the past. I can see how much pain it causes.

ACID values the support of its members to enable it to campaign for design law reform. Do you have any messages for Government/Policy Makers on IP issues?

I do not have any messages as I am still fairly new to this. Given time and experience, I will develop a clearer understanding of the IP laws and, I am sure, have ideas on how the whole process works.

Eleanor Fausing

www.eleanorfausing.co.uk