Nicola Cliffe is the creative founder of Madder Cutch and Co whose mission is to produce beautifully designed fabric using natural plant dyes and pigments. With a lifelong love of textiles, her express aim is to address the careless use of synthetic dyes worldwide and she has put years of research and hard work into the project.
Inspired by her surroundings, Nicola works from a studio in Stamford, Lincolnshire and is renowned for wonderful designs often featuring delicate flowers that grow in her garden every summer. The story began in 2014 when Nicola - a former chemistry teacher - achieved a childhood dream and won a place at Chelsea College of Art and Design going on to complete an MA with distinction in sustainable textile design. More research followed and in 2016 Madder Cutch and Co was born with a first collection featuring the delicate flowers of Achillea millefolium. There have been numerous collections since, all reflecting the nature she loves. Nicola said: My approach is to keep things simple, natural and handcrafted using a reliable hand printing process and sustainably sourced plant dyes and pigments. The dyes I use are from good old staples including Madder, Indigo and Mulberry which continue to impress me with their versatility and beauty.
Nicola admits her favourite part of the process is the design. I start with a simple form but progressing it to a flowing repeat pattern that can be printed by hand is not always easy and the trick is to keep it true to its humble beginnings. A variety of products using the fabrics are also available including curtains, blinds, cushions, lampshades and more, produced on the doorstep by local makers - and Nicola herself. Cushions are hand made to order and the company is proud of the way all the colours and designs sit perfectly together in any room setting. We love working directly with our customers, including making bespoke colours as close as nature will allow, she said. This is not the end of the story and Nicola continues her endeavor by teaching and helping young textile designers to gain printing experience. She has just achieved another first with the publication of a beautiful and informative book, Printing with natural dyes available now, published by The Crowood Press.
