and I am one part of  Woot’n Wright; designer/makers of … 

high quality, bespoke leather satchels, textiles homewares and one off unique textile accessories. Woot’n Wright is one part Amy – Textile Designer and Botanic Artist, and one part Jess – a boy shoemaker and leather craftman. We are about creating quality products using traditional and hands on skill, providing our customers with quality products that exude a passion for its creation.

Woot’n Wright began in an unusual three leveled studio ‘the Tower’ in Prahran, Melbourne. Amy Wright and Jess Cameron-Wootten were working corporate design jobs and looking for creative outlets to explore their passion for handmade quality products. With design backgrounds in Textile Design, Botanical Painting, and Industrial Design, and having a shared aesthetic and design ethos, it was a logical step to join the two designers’ skills.

Now working out of a studio/shop space in Albert Park products are designed, hand screen printed and finished by the duo. It is important to both designers to be ‘hands on’ and part of the making process, with the materials used playing an integral role in informing the designs aesthetic and tactile qualities. Being true to materials and developing contemporary colour palettes, gives the product a timeless quality whilst maintaining their contemporary edge.

Amy, responsible for the illustrative design direction, uses traditional methods to translate paper art into screen prints. With a passion for hand drawn detail, rarely is a computer used for pattern development. ‘I adore the quirky imperfections and therefore the truthfulness of hand drawn designs.’ Amy regards herself as an illustrator and painter who utilises her skills as a textile designer to create products. Taking art pieces off the wall and giving them new purpose as practical objects for everyday use. Inspiration comes from the botanical environment, with designs for leather satchels influenced by ‘places that people can associate with’. Current designs depict Melbourne city scapes and The Botanical Gardens views.

Woot’n Wright is about creating quality product using traditional skills. For Jess being able to apply contemporary Industrial Design skills to traditional artisan craft and to be part of every step of the manufacturing process, is what he finds most appealing. Quality products, that have integrity of manufacturing process and materials, age and change taking on new qualities reflected by the use and care of the owner.

Jess is a bespoke Shoemaker and his work can be found at Doc Cobbler.

Amy’s Botanic Art can be seen in the painted forest and her high end unique Antipodean Australia textile accessories and homewares are available in the Woot’n Wright store.

* As of September 2009, We will be holding an ongoing series of classes in the Woot’n Wright Studio in Albert Park, with Textile Designer and Botanical Artist, Amy Wright.

Classes included: Contemporary Botanical Painting and Drawing Classes – mixed media and mark making and Basic Screen Printing Classes – Techniques for artwork preparation, and printing techniques appropriate for at Home use.

Classes focus on creativity and experimentation. Class size is limited to 5 people, so everyone gets the attention they deserve!

Please email your interest to amywrightdesign@hotmail.com and visit www.wootnwright.blogspot.com for class schedules.