Simone Brewster Fold Woman
Posted by marie@thefoldlondon.com BigCommerce on 20th Feb 2024
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
‘DEFINE YOUR OWN CAREER.’
HER STORY
SIMONE BREWSTER
From furniture-maker and sculptor to jeweller and painter, London-based designer Simone Brewster tells us about her genre-busting career and why she’s playing the long game.
ON HER CHILDHOOD: As a kid, I was always drawing. I was six when I decided I wanted to be an architect. We were on holiday in Trinidad, where my dad’s from, and I remember walking into a house and asking, “Why is it so cool in here? All the other houses are hot inside.” My dad replied, “Your cousin designed it that way – he’s an architect.” I thought, “Wow, what an amazing profession!”
I went on to study at the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. The first year was a total shock; it was hugely competitive, intense and daunting – and there weren’t many other people who looked like me on the course. Most of the students had done an art foundation course, or had parents who were architects, whereas I felt completely out of my depth. It wasn’t until the second year, when I learned to weld and work with different materials, that I started to find my feet.
ON HER EARLY CAREER: I applied to do an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art. I didn’t think I’d get in but they loved my portfolio. After the rigour of Bartlett, this felt like an opportunity to play, to have fun, to immerse myself in making. I’d walk around all the departments, chatting to people and finding opportunities to try out new stuff. Glass blowing. Clay modelling. Jewellery design. My work became a fusion of different creative fields. I made a cup with a ring on it, for example, blurring the line between the practical product and the adornment.
After I graduated, one of my tutors, designer Martino Gamper, took me on as an assistant for a year, then I started teaching a one-year intensive foundation course in Notting Hill. The course was a kind of Architecture 101: What makes a good building? How should you present a drawing? What are the ingredients of space? It was all the things I wish I’d known before I started my degree. I used the steady income from teaching to set myself up as an independent designer.
ON HER CURRENT ROLE: I work across disciplines and scales, from jewellery and paintings to sculptures and furniture. I’ve always loved using wood. It reminds me of my childhood home – the mahogany bannister, the large carved masks, the cooking utensils and the dark wood carvings my parents collected during their younger years in the Caribbean and the US. I’m currently working on a “listening bench” for Greenwich Peninsula, a furniture collection for Made.com, a collaboration with ethical fashion label Jakke, and two paintings for the The ING Discerning Eye exhibition.
ON HER STYLE: My style is simple and strong. You’ll never find me in a floral print; I tend to go for block colours, classic silhouettes, and bold, architectural jewellery. For big events, I have a couple of go-to power suits, which make me stand taller and give me more confidence. I want my clothes to reflect my personality and help people understand who I am.
HER STORY
SIMONE BREWSTER
SIMONE BREWSTER
From furniture-maker and sculptor to jeweller and painter, London-based designer Simone Brewster tells us about her genre-busting career and why she’s playing the long game.
From furniture-maker and sculptor to jeweller and painter, London-based designer Simone Brewster tells us about her genre-busting career and why she’s playing the long game.
ON HER CHILDHOOD: As a kid, I was always drawing. I was six when I decided I wanted to be an architect. We were on holiday in Trinidad, where my dad’s from, and I remember walking into a house and asking, “Why is it so cool in here? All the other houses are hot inside.” My dad replied, “Your cousin designed it that way – he’s an architect.” I thought, “Wow, what an amazing profession!”
I went on to study at the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. The first year was a total shock; it was hugely competitive, intense and daunting – and there weren’t many other people who looked like me on the course. Most of the students had done an art foundation course, or had parents who were architects, whereas I felt completely out of my depth. It wasn’t until the second year, when I learned to weld and work with different materials, that I started to find my feet.
ON HER EARLY CAREER: I applied to do an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art. I didn’t think I’d get in but they loved my portfolio. After the rigour of Bartlett, this felt like an opportunity to play, to have fun, to immerse myself in making. I’d walk around all the departments, chatting to people and finding opportunities to try out new stuff. Glass blowing. Clay modelling. Jewellery design. My work became a fusion of different creative fields. I made a cup with a ring on it, for example, blurring the line between the practical product and the adornment.
After I graduated, one of my tutors, designer Martino Gamper, took me on as an assistant for a year, then I started teaching a one-year intensive foundation course in Notting Hill. The course was a kind of Architecture 101: What makes a good building? How should you present a drawing? What are the ingredients of space? It was all the things I wish I’d known before I started my degree. I used the steady income from teaching to set myself up as an independent designer.
‘It was hugely competitive, intense and daunting – and there weren’t many people who looked like me on the course.’
‘It was hugely competitive, intense and daunting – and there weren’t many people who looked like me on the course.’
‘It was hugely competitive, intense and daunting – and there weren’t many people who looked like me on the course.’
ON STAYING SANE: I try to prioritise sleep (I’m usually in bed by 10pm) and I exercise for an hour every morning with a mix of weights, skipping and circuits. I love podcasts as I can multitask; I’m currently listening to Criminal, This Is Love and QCODE stories. I used to read comic books as a kid so I’m pretty hooked on the What If… ? animated series on Disney+.
ON HER TOUGHEST MOMENTS: It has taken me a long time to find my own identity and value myself beyond my work. That can be tough in a society that puts what you do above who you are. My family are so supportive; they’ve taught me that I’m more than anything I create with my hands.
ON HER ROLE MODEL: My hero is French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. She’s best known for her large-scale sculpture and installation art, but was also a prolific painter and printmaker. She lived until she was 99 and has an incredible body of work – but she had to wait until she was 70 before she was truly recognised. These days, it’s easy to look at Instagram and feel as if you’re in competition with everyone else. You think, “Why hasn’t that happened to me yet?” Louise’s extraordinary career and longevity is a reminder to take the long view.
ON HER MOST POWERFUL
PIECE OF ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN:
‘Slow down. Don’t be in a race. Set your own standards.’
‘It has taken me a long time to find my own identity and value myself beyond my work.’
‘It has taken me a long time to find my own identity and value myself beyond my work.’
ON HER CURRENT ROLE: I work across disciplines and scales, from jewellery and paintings to sculptures and furniture. I’ve always loved using wood. It reminds me of my childhood home – the mahogany bannister, the large carved masks, the cooking utensils and the dark wood carvings my parents collected during their younger years in the Caribbean and the US. I’m currently working on a “listening bench” for Greenwich Peninsula, a furniture collection for Made.com, a collaboration with ethical fashion label Jakke, and two paintings for the The ING Discerning Eye exhibition.
ON HER STYLE: My style is simple and strong. You’ll never find me in a floral print; I tend to go for block colours, classic silhouettes, and bold, architectural jewellery. For big events, I have a couple of go-to power suits, which make me stand taller and give me more confidence. I want my clothes to reflect my personality and help people understand who I am.
ON STAYING SANE: I try to prioritise sleep (I’m usually in bed by 10pm) and I exercise for an hour every morning with a mix of weights, skipping and circuits. I love podcasts as I can multitask; I’m currently listening to Criminal, This Is Love and QCODE stories. I used to read comic books as a kid so I’m pretty hooked on the What If… ? animated series on Disney+.
ON HER TOUGHEST MOMENTS: It has taken me a long time to find my own identity and value myself beyond my work. That can be tough in a society that puts what you do above who you are. My family are so supportive; they’ve taught me that I’m more than anything I create with my hands.
ON HER ROLE MODEL: My hero is French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. She’s best known for her large-scale sculpture and installation art, but was also a prolific painter and printmaker. She lived until she was 99 and has an incredible body of work – but she had to wait until she was 70 before she was truly recognised. These days, it’s easy to look at Instagram and feel as if you’re in competition with everyone else. You think, “Why hasn’t that happened to me yet?” Louise’s extraordinary career and longevity is a reminder to take the long view.
ON HER MOST POWERFUL PIECE OF ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN
‘Slow down. Don’t be in a race. Set your own standards.’
‘Slow down. Don’t be in a race. Set your own standards.’