Maaike x Evie Kemp
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Evie, and I’m an artist, designer, and stylist who works across illustration, textiles, and interiors mostly. I really just like to apply pattern and colour to anything and everything. No boring bits.
Describe your personal style - fave designers?
My personal style is quite all over the place, but predictably quite maximalist. I love to wear colour and pattern, with a bit of a retro feel. I actually never know how to describe my own style. Designers I love are a bit old school, I love looking back at the work of Elsa Schiaparelli, Celia Birtwell, Zandra Rhodes and original Missoni (lots of pattern!) but I appreciate all types of fashion and design and will just soak it up.
Tell us a bit about how you came up with the Maaike print? Inspirations etc.
Obviously the first inspiration came from the Maaike brand and discussions with Abby & Emilie, reflecting on their history of bold, graphic prints but reimagining it. We knew it would be loosely a “floral”. In my mind I was inspired by 1970s Marimekko and Matisse-esque collages. Maaike are known for their incredible draping, and can carry a really impactful print so obviously that was a big inspiration.
How has it been seeing your art transformed into garments?
Absolutely incredible. It takes the design to a whole other level, and every new garment shows it in a new way. There is such a huge difference between a flat print, and it transformed in to clothing. What I love most about Maaike is how it is interpreted so individually by everyone. Seeing all these amazing people making it their own is just SO good, and so inspiring as both a designer, and a person who wears clothes!
Fave piece in your print?
I LOVE the Kemp Shirt Dress, and not just for the name! I love all the pieces though and their versatility, and with every drop I think I have new favourites. I still feel I’m a novice in my layering skills, but I’m obsessed with seeing how different pieces work with each other.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working mostly on some individual art pieces for a couple of group shows including the Seed Gallery Christmas exhibition. It’s nice to have some hands on art time as I’ve been doing a lot more commercial projects lately (which I also love but variety is good!). I’m also working on some fabric design concepts…for something! Ha.
You are so well known for your use of colour - what is it that draws you to it? Do you think colour can affect our moods?
100%! I’m a huge believer in the power of colour to affect our moods and influence us, however I don’t always believe that it’s a simple as “red makes us angry” or “blue is calming”. There are so many shades and tones in this world and I think we see them all differently. I just love colour and see colour inspiration everywhere and then try and file good colour combos in my head to refer back to later. I think what I love most about it is that it’s limitless - you can put pink and orange next to each other a zillion times but they can be completely different.
Your house and interior design style is all kinds of amazing is it something you have always loved?
I’ve always been so in to design, from as early as I can remember. I took my dolls house VERY seriously as a child. I found my parents house when I was 14 while trawling real estate listings, and spent $500 of hard saved call centre job money to recover my first sofa when I was 18. My mum has always been in to interiors so I grew up in a house with a lot of colour, and never ending DIY projects happening. It all ties in with my love of collecting and vintage finds. I can’t really imagine being any different because Ive always loved it so much.
Fave area of your house?
I love my Bowie wall with the rainbow and the giant leopard print couch, it’s just feels so me and I have no urge to change it…which for me, is a big deal.
Interior photos by Becks Silke from Little White Lies