S2 Ep6: Doing what you love and uncovering the stories and histories within design for interiors with Upholsterer Simion Hawtin-Smith

Simion Hawtin-Smith is the Creative Director of Reloved Upholstery and Design in Manchester. He started Reloved Upholstery in 2014, and specialises in giving iconic chairs a new lease of life, using a combination of traditional and modern methods.

He is an upholsterer for the BBC One TV show, Money for Nothing, and has a monthly column in Reclaim magazine sharing the inspirations behind his work.

Simion is an incredibly diverse and multi-disciplined creative.

He also works as an interior stylist and as a workshop host and loves nothing more than teaching and passing on his skills and love of all things upholstery.

At Make it in Design we are thrilled to have Simion on board featuring as an expert guest tutor in the “hands on” Make It In Design interior masterclassess: Surface Pattern Design + Cushion Making and Pattern Creation + Chair Upholstery.

Perhaps starting his creative career later than some as he changed up his path, but since the beginning Simion has completely owned his specialism all whilst diversifying his skill set and being a lovely, inspiring and generous person in the process.

Episode 6 includes:

· Giving yourself the time to explore what you are passionate about and then doing it

· Growing your own business and brand and sharing your creative goal with others

· Working with independent designers with an authentic narrative to their work

· Absorbing inspiration from other creatives and channelling this into your own work and creative development

· Restoring and reinventing interior pieces whilst retaining their sentimental value

· Passing on the joy of upholstery with others whilst connecting with them