D E S I G N
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O T H E R
S T O R I E S
C H A P T E R
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Sophie’s Story. C H A P T E R
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A Story of Earth. C H A P T E R
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Inspired by Nature.
Copyright © 2021 Portmeirion Group UK Limited
D E S I G N E R ,
C O O K
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A U T H O R
C H A P T E R
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Sophie’s Story. As a child, my playground was furnished with fruit cages, greenhouses, dumper trucks and cement mixers. I loved it and it has given me a rich pallet to draw on, one that is always rooted in family, friends and further enriching life at home – the best bit in my book. My background and learnings are firmly rooted with my amazing family, rather than coming from a formal education. My inspiration, motivation and what I draw on, informing everything I do comes from them and their passions, their creativity and unbelievable energ y around life at home. My Mum as a cookery writer was always researching, testing, investigating and exploring everything in her field. My brothers and I were the happy beneficiaries of her ever-growing knowledge and the delicious and varied food that she prepared. My Dad, the founder of Habitat, had vast homeware and restaurant businesses. It was personal, everything he did was done with the idea that it was making a better world for everyone to enjoy. Together they refurbished an old prep school that became our home, complete with an extensive kitchen garden.
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C H A P T E R
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Form & Function Within my own design work, I am particularly interested in the delicate balance of form & function. Form, I believe, needs to be pleasing to all the senses. To touch you emotionally, what does it evoke? For me, I push for each design to sing and I know when it has reached something special. With function, the material and its practicalities are vital, it needs to excel at its given task. Further to that, it needs to have longevity both as an object to be used. We have carefully considered its environmental impact, by using organic, sustainable clay and the consideration of the people who help bring it to life, so I am delighted to work with the many gifted potters & craftspeople who are creative and skilled. Between us, we thread everything together.
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A Story of Earth.
C H A P T E R
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Touch. I love the idea that clay is just a certain kind of earth, the same earth that all life springs from. I try to keep this connection present through my designs. My new collection is made from Organic Iberian Clay, which, when fired, is called stoneware. Stoneware has an earthy nature and is not only beautiful but hard-wearing, sustainable and has a wonderful feel to it, making it the perfect material for forming bowls, plates and serving plates for everyday use; ready to offer earth’s rich bounty. Each piece is beautifully and carefully made in Portugal, a country with a rich history of craftsmanship and incredible, high quality ceramics.
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Inspired by Nature.
C H A P T E R
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The Nature of Creativity. Nature is the eternal provider and has inspired the graceful shapes and organic contours of this collection which, like nature, is perfectly imperfect, f luid & multifaceted. My garden is my little piece of heaven, I often sit on the warm stone steps and soak up inspiration; the sounds and scents of my kitchen garden, taking time out from the modern world to enjoy its natural rhythms, forms, shapes and shades. Like f lowers in the garden, each colour and design of this collection is made to work together in harmony, just like a bouquet of f lowers, you can mix the shapes and colours to add extra interest and texture and to express your individual style.
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V I E W
F R O M
T H E
W I N D O W
D O V E G R E Y
C R E A M Y W H I T E
F L O R E T
A R B O R
D E S I G N E D B Y N A T U R E , A S I N N A T U R E T O S I T S E P A R A T E L Y O R T O G E T H E R
F L O R E T Elegant, f luid f loral inspired curves and colours.
D O V E G R E Y
C R E A M Y W H I T E
D O V E G R E Y
C R E A M Y W H I T E
A R B O R Calm, gentle curves, earthy grounded colours.
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M E T A L
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G L A S S
C H A P T E R
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The glass and cutlery pieces bring the collection together and are designed and made with the same nature-inspired principles using great materials. The glass pieces are simple and understated with indents for fingers and thumbs, making them satisfying to hold and giving the impression each one is moulded by your very own hand. The cutlery is generous and smooth to touch like a pebble that has been polished by the sea for an age of shifting tides. Each piece is perfectly balanced, so it feels just right in the hand.
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C H A P T E R
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Everything feels Right. Everything about my collection has to feel right. From the way it’s made, to the way it feels, every single piece should be a pleasure to use and enjoy every day. I believe that surrounding yourself with objects that bring delight and contentment to the daily acts of eating & drinking makes life more joyous. These beautiful pieces are made to last, to journey with you through events large and small. I invite you to enjoy the goodness with your family and friends, because that’s why I do what I do and have designed the Sophie Conran for Portmeirion collection.
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PORTMEIRION.CO.UK A PORTMEIRION GROUP BR A ND The name behind Portmeirion is Portmeirion Group, the renowned UK business respected by retailers worldwide. E. & O.E March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Portmeirion Group UK Limited