This month for our creative chat I’ve been speaking to Laura Sherriffs, an amazing designer whose business Fernweh creates beautifully crafted bags. The textural lunch bags make me want to pack up some sandwiches and a flask then head out for adventures! Laura gives us a glimpse into her creative life.

Me in Studio.jpg — Fernweh

Laura is one of the amazing creatives in the Deemouth Studios, Aberdeen. Where she works on creating her own collections in a conscious way and collaborates with other creatives too.

1. Tell us who you are and what you do?

I'm Laura and I'm the designer/maker at Fernweh. I create handcrafted bags and accessories inspired by my own love of the outdoors and the Scottish landscape. I take a lot of inspiration from vintage mountaineering and rock climbing, and use traditional, rugged materials such as waxed canvas and leather to create pieces with purpose and to connect my work to the landscape I'm inspired by, and to bring a wee bit of adventure into everyday life.

2. Why are you a creative?

I've always been creative in one way or another, I love occupying my mind and hands and indulging in creativity, it’s like a wee escape for me! I was always drawing growing up and dreamed of some form of career in art, it wasn't until I was about to go to art school that I fell in love with sewing and fashion. I loved the idea of art being more than just creating on a flat surface and creating wearable art and telling a story through fashion ticked all my creative boxes and I fell in love with it. I relish the problem-solving aspect of taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a 3d object, it works both the creative and more technical side of my brain and I love that!

3. If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing when you started out what would it be?

I would tell myself that it’s okay to say no to things and go at my own pace. When I started out my business I would say yes to every opportunity that came my way, which quickly lead to burn out and working on projects that perhaps in hindsight weren't quite right for me. Something I've realised in the last year or so is the importance of slowing down, giving myself time to reflect on my work, which helps inform what I do next.

4. What's your favourite task/job to do and your worst?

I really, really love pattern cutting and the sewing side of my work. As I mentioned, I love figuring out how to translate a sketch or idea into a flat pattern, that in turn becomes a 3d object once sewn. I find it so interesting how these shapes interact with another and could spend forever creating meticulous patterns for my designs. I also really love the actual sewing aspect of making my bags. I switch on the sewing machine and get into the zone and it’s such a relaxing process- and there's nothing more satisfying than a neatly sewn topstitch!

5. What song/podcast gets you in the zone?

At the moment I'm really into business podcasts. I love hearing the stories of other small businesses and creatives, I find it really motivating and relatable. At the moment I've been listening to Small Fish Big Pod, by Rhiannon Louden from Small Fish Brand Co. Rhiannon is really passionate about telling female creative's stories and sharing accessible tips about small business life - and its super relatable too which I love! I'm also really passionate about sustainable fashion and making, so I've been devouring S2 of the Common Threads podcast by Ruth MacGilp and Alice Cruickshank who explore all aspects of the world of ethical and sustainable fashion, the fast fashion industry and how fashion can create a better system for everyone. They've had some incredible guests in this series including Fashion Revolution co-founder Orsola de Castro and "How to Break Up With Fast Fashion" author Lauren Bravo.
As for songs, I'm a huge CHVRCHES fan so I'm usually dancing around the studio to them!

Website - www.fernwehuk.com

Instragram - @FernwehUK

Facebook - www.facebook.com/FernwehUK

Follow Fernweh on socials for more behind the scenes from Laura and thoughtful honest insights into pushing to be a sustainable maker. As well as stunning crafted bags and images from the Scottish landscape.

Paper Houses Connects with Fernweh