Meet the designer: Vintage interiors queen emmalovesretro

Cushions made from old dresses and curtains make for a stylish way to be eco in the home. emmalovesretro rocks striking psychedelic pinks with gorgeous 60s prints and she does it all from recycled materials. We love Emma as much as Emma loves retro! Emma Glibbery chats to Malaika Byng Features Writer of mydeco.com about £2 jeans, vintage Dior and childhood nostalgia.

As a child… my mother always encouraged me to be creative. Our house was full of things she’d made and the sewing machine was constantly humming.

I first began… working with fabrics during college. I would buy clothes from charity shops and embellish them with other finds. It was a way to express myself.

My label kicked off… when I rescued my parent’s old 70s curtains which were about to bite the dust. I made blinds and cushions for my new flat and things led on from there.

emmalovesretro because… of its graphic quality, amazing patterns and colours. I like to let my fabrics speak for themselves. There’s also a nostalgic element to it – my flat is a kind of replica of my childhood home. My mother says to me ‘it’s like being in my old house!’

I make retro fabrics contemporary… by backing the cushions with modern fabric. It gives my designs a clean, crisp look.

I’m obsessed with… recycling. I love giving new life to something that’s old. I’ve always had boxes of fabric scraps at home. I try to avoid buying anything new, where possible, and all my publicity material for emmalovesretro is printed on recycled paper with environmentally friendly inks.

The design industry could clean up its act by… creating things with longevity – products that won’t be in landfill sites a few months later. I would like to see more of a ‘make do and mend’ mentality.

My dress sense is… very eclectic and individual. I hate chucking clothes away and I think that being a slave to fashion creates great waste so I prefer to keep on trend by accessorising. My proudest purchase of late is a pair of high–wasted jeans – £2 from a charity shop!

My favourite fashion labels… are vintage Dior and Yves Saint Laurent. I love the elegance of their 40s and 50s collections, which were very considered, investment pieces. I also like the current collections of Roberto Cavalli and Stella McCartney for their femininity.

Fashion translates well to interiors… because the two have a symbiotic relationship. They look to the same things for inspiration and trends are based on fabric, pattern and colour. You can change your home’s style with accessories just like you can your clothes.

I love the Missoni Home collections… because of their bold colours and stunning graphic stripes.

In the future… you can expect a wider range of products from emmalovesretro. I want to offer a bespoke blind–making and upholstery service.

Cushions are around £45 at emmalovesretro.co.uk