Ochre

Known for their subtle and sophisticated furnishing, designers Joanna Bibby, Harriet Maxwell Macdonald and Solenne de la Fouchardiere place equal importance on harmonious proportions, beautiful materials and expert British craftsmanship. Together they are Ochre, a British based furniture, lighting and interiors company, recognised as innovators in the design industry. Ochre specialises in creating objects of style and beauty which are both timeless and contemporary while seeking out and working with the finest craftsmen. Each piece is made to order which ensures impeccable standards of manufacturing. It was while Joanna and Harriet were studying Decorative Art at City & Guilds of London Art School that they decided to join forces, each bringing a different skill set to the collaboration. Joanna and Harriet’s dedication to Ochre became apparent as the duo worked tirelessly, juggling day jobs and coming together at the kitchen table in the evening to create gesso and pigments. Their creative flair lead them to design their first products, the Water Gilded and Bole Table Lamps. These were successfully launched at 100% design in 1996. Joanna and Harriet were later joined by Solenne - a graduate of Wimbledon School of Art - who had been looking for a role within the design industry that combined both art and business. Solenne soon became an equal partner, and the three designers bonded over their passion for materials, a deep appreciation of craftsmanship, design and art. The inaugural friendship shared between the trio and deep mutual respect has always remained integral to Ochre’s activities and is portrayed through its collections. A shared holistic approach enables the three women to design collaboratively when developing new products, watching their ideas come into fruition. Ochre’s founders have often found it hard not to get lost in day-to-day business, so set aside time to escape the studio together, allowing them to immerse themselves in the design process fully. This has enabled the business to organically grow into the sought-after label that is it today with showrooms in London and New York. New product brings a buzz to the team as it is often the result of a long creative journey with many pieces taking years to make, this is what inspires Jo, Harriet and Solenne to continue to develop Ochre. Over the past 25 years, hero products have included the Arctic Pear, Seed Cloud Chandelier the Gaia Pendent and the Snooze Chair which have become Ochre classics. Pieces from the newer rug and lighting collections are also firm favourites with Ochre’s founders. The rugs are entirely crafted by hand in the fertile planes of the Eastern Ganga River basin, the rug-weavers collaborate with local dyers and spinners, to use the natural fibres from the abundant flora and fauna in the surrounding environment. Ochre’s “Drifter” lighting collection is also due to launch this Autumn. The Drifter Light is hand-carved in oak by traditional British cricket bat makers. The elongated, linear pendant is set with striking brass and saddle leather details with whole LED strips discreetly embedded within the piece. The founders are constantly developing their expertise to match the ebb and flow of the industry which allows Ochre to meet the demands of the world today.