May 25, 2015
DESIGNER PAUL GARVEY
Paul Garvey fell into textile art about four years ago when he met textile designer Marissa Maximo, who had just finished working as a director at Anthropologie and was about to head up the colour and trend division of Urban Outfitters. “From there I got really passionate about it, seeing my creations on whole bunch of different mediums was super rewarding,” he says. Since then he has had his brand Mont La Roc stocked in Urban Outfitters and worked on their private label. “It made me aware that I wasn’t the only one enjoying the work I created - it was well received by total strangers without needing a cool story or marketing buzz behind it to help push sales,” Paul says. “It was a very real and honest test of if your stuff is good or just well-marketed - huge learning curve.” Since then he has created a range of papier mache plant pots, P.A.L.M.S., which he sells through Greenhouse Interiors, and has started to paint again.
Which five words best describe you? Passion. Art. Love. Madness. Silence.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Julia Green has been the kick-starter for my brand P.A.L.M.S, starting with my papier mache hanging pots and now planters wholesaling them through Greenhouse Interiors. As for the path taken since, I have picked up the paint brushes again. I had around 12 years off them but now I have started painting again and I can’t stop. So this will be something you will be seeing a lot more of from me.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? It's not what you know it’s who you know.
What’s been your best decision? Choosing to network and keep contacts when I was working in retail on Chapel St for 14 years.
Who inspires you? Anyone who has a go and tries to make a passion into a career.
What are you passionate about? Family, creativity of all walks, edible gardens, home cooking, passionate people.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Charlie Chaplin because it would be so weird.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Buying a tropical island.
What are you reading? Oh, the Places you’ll go! by Dr.Seuss. I have a baby boy and a five-year-old girl.
images courtesy of paul garvey