LDF Network Evening 2015: Emily Johnson

London – We caught up with 1882 Ltd founder Emily Johnson to talk about craft in the age of anti-authenticity.

Founded in 2011, 1882 Ltd has been quietly reviving Stoke’s ceramics industry, working with innovative designers to create pieces that combine old techniques with new aesthetic trends, and has been showing off her company's creations at London Design Festival 2015.

Speaking to senior journalist Rowland Manthorpe at last week’s Design in the Age of Anti-authenticity Network Evening, Johnson explained why pottery is so important to Stoke and how she is readying a business five generations old for the contemporary marketplace.

‘It’s a combination of preservation and innovation,’ says Johnson. ‘In order to create something new you need to have a deep understanding of the craft skills that have gone before.’

The Big Picture: In a world in which products are increasingly described as ‘crafted’ or ‘bespoke’, consumers have become bored with and sceptical of the existing brand lexicon. Book your place at Beyond Borders, our Autumn/Winter 2015 Trend Briefing, to find out more.