Q&A with...

Cakebread

Elise Cakebread in her studio.

Pile High Club cushions by Cakebread.

Cakebread is a Melbourne based textile design studio founded by Elise Cakebread in 2013.

A little introduction to Elise... 
I am a textile-based artist and designer.
I founded the textile design studio Cakebread in 2013.
 
TDC - Tell us about your brand. What do you do? 
I am driven by experimentation within traditional textile processes and techniques, my work focuses on the tensions created by the unusual or unexpected contrasts that emerge between materials, forms, colours, textures and scale. Through these methods I explore ideas of materiality, tactility, craft, disposability and the ornamental.
My cross-disciplinary approach gives life to sculptural work, installations, decorative objects, accessories and soft furnishings.
The main line of products are soft-furnishings; quilts, cushions and throw rugs.  They are all made locally and hand-finished in the Studio.  
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TDC -  What sets your brand apart? 
My approach is one that favours artistry over trends. My focus is on the tactility of the materials I use, balance of colour and the application of techniques. I am always striving to unearth new methods, or interpretations of techniques. I want to make pieces that are more than just a throw rug or cushion but are unique and engaging pieces of artistry in their own right. This is what drives what I do and hopefully also what sets Cakebread apart.
 
TDC - What design ethos do you live by? 
My approach to design is that through experimentation and play the most interesting and engaging results are revealed. With each piece I aim to make something that will really connect, pieces that have personality, that invite you to touch and experience them.   
 
TDC - What's your favourite product in your range and why? 
My favorite and most popular pieces by far are the Soft Hemispheres - in all their various incarnations. The Soft Hemispheres are characterful pieces that have a highly tactile quality that really resonate with people. They are made using what has become a signature Cakebread tufted yarn technique. I’m always excited to make new versions of these, whether they be tiny almost pom-pom like spheres or huge one meter wide orbs with extra long strands - like the Leviathan piece I made for Space furniture back in 2014.  
I’ve also been spending the last few months developing new versions of this technique and I think this is quickly becoming my new favourite.

TDC - What plans do you have for the future?  
I’m currently working on a new collection of soft furnishings as well as some sculptural pieces for a public art installation that - fingers crossed - will happen sometime this year.
So I’ve been developing and teaching myself lots of new techniques – very much looking forward to seeing these projects evolve and resolve!

VISIT CAKEBREAD'S WEBSITE