CARVING A PLACE

When a new sewing site arrives on the scene, it’s not always easy to spot provenance. Luckily, Nicola Homer and Susan Howells of new Scottish sewing pattern design house Homer + Howells have experience, knowledge, and creativity in spades. The pair launched their business just before Christmas 2019 but it had been in the making for around a year. “Lots of people warned us that getting started can be one of the trickiest parts so we were keen to launch the brand and kick-start 2020 with Homer + Howells out there,” explains Nicola.

Nicola and Susan describe themselves as ‘technical garment people with a passion for well designed, beautifully made clothes.’ They first met while studying at the Scottish College of Textiles, before working in ready-to-wear for esteemed British brands. Susan, the creative pattern cutter of the duo, drafts all of Homer + Howells’ patterns from her studio. She has worked for some wonderful innovative brands including Christopher Kane, Jean Muir, and 16Arlington, and continues to draft for exciting designers each season on the side. Susan also loves to skill-up others by sharing her pattern cutting and sewing skills with sewists of all levels, from school children to training industry-standard pattern cutters