Why I Added Art Wear into the Mix

If you've followed me for a while, you'll know my little handmade tiles and crosses are my most popular pieces. And I absolutely love designing new ranges.

Every single one is poured and finished with resin by me, with a little help from my husband, right here in my studio. No two are exactly the same, which is exactly why you love them. But it's also why I've had to be honest with myself — I physically can't scale that part of my business anymore. Each tile is individually poured, sanded, painted and resined. There are only so many hours and I always have a waiting list of wholesale orders to keep up with. I never want to rush them or hand them off to someone else to make. They are meant to be slow-made not mass produced.

I started asking myself: how can I share my art with more of you, without losing that handmade soul?

The answer came from two of my favourite things — my paintings, and travel.

From Canvas to Cloth

For years my original paintings have lived on walls. But I've always loved the little details in them — a frond, a wash of colour, a fragment of a pattern that reminds me of a place I’ve been.

So I began playing with the idea of art wear.

Made the Right Way, or Not at All

I knew if I was going to put my art onto clothing, it had to feel right against your skin and sit right with my values.

So this is what I promised myself:

Only natural fibres. Every piece is 100% cotton or organic cotton. Nothing synthetic, nothing that makes you hot and uncomfortable. It has to breathe, drape, and soften with every wash.

Makers who care. I only work with small makers who treat their employees well, pay fairly, and recycle where possible. No fast fashion factories. I've asked the questions and visited where I can.

Very small runs to eliminate waste. I don't do bulk. I print in tiny, considered runs — sometimes as few as 25 pieces in one design. It costs more, but it means I'm not left with boxes of unsold stock that ends up in landfill. When a design is gone, it's gone, and a new one takes its place, just like my originals.

It’s slow fashion, really. The same philosophy as my tiles and crosses, just in a different form.

For My Fellow Hand-Luggage-Only Travellers

My other not-so-secret love is travel. And I am proudly, stubbornly, hand-luggage-only. Always.

I needed clothes that could do more with less, and that’s exactly what this range is designed for.

My sarongs are probably the hardest-working piece you’ll own — a beach cover-up, a wrap on the plane, a scarf on a cool evening, a tablecloth for a picnic, even a light blanket.

My kimonos — throw one over a simple dress or jeans and tee and you’re dressed. They take up no room, and make you feel pulled-together the second you put them on.

And my tees — soft, 100% organic cotton, and so comfy to wear. It will become your favourite throw on. Perfect for coffee dates, school drop offs or a day at the beach.

This isn’t about replacing my tiles and crosses or my originals. Those will always be the heart of my studio, made slowly by my hands for your home.

Art Wear is just another way to live with my art — not just on your wall, but with you, wherever you go.

Thank you for coming on this new little adventure with me.

Love, Sue