The Seaforth Story
Seaforth Designs is based in the coastal fishing village of Solva, Pembrokeshire, with a small shop in Main Street in the lower village, We use the rugged local landscape and wildlife as inspiration for many of the designs in the collections.
Living amid the stunning coastal scenery of Solva, Emma draws daily inspiration from her surroundings. The natural beauty of the area – from the deep purples of blooming heather to the elegant wading birds of the harbour shines through in her textile work. She incorporates locally sourced materials and traditional Welsh fabrics to reflect the region’s essence.
Seaforth Designs began with handcrafted cushions made from Harris Tweed and Melin Tregwynt wool, often working with the nearby Solva Woollen Mill. Their work caught the eye of a broader audience when they were invited to showcase at the Country Living Spring Fair in Islington in 2014.
Since then, Seaforth Designs has gained a loyal following and received features in several lifestyle publications, including Country Living Magazine, Coast, Period Living, and Welsh Coastal Living.
Emma’s creative journey began in Wiltshire, where she grew up surrounded by the rolling hills of the Marlborough Downs. This idyllic countryside setting has long been a source of inspiration for her designs.
Her early years were filled with cherished memories, especially time spent with her grandmother in Suffolk. Together, they would wander along the riverbanks of the Deben at Woodbridge, where bird colonies flourished and the gentle rustle of reed beds at Snape added to the magic of those moments.
Emma was always sewing before she began her career as a window dresser and then training as a seamstress under the guidance of a skilled Italian bespoke tailor in Marlborough. Over the years, she has honed her craft across a range of creative settings, including notable work in curtain restoration at Kelmscott Manor in Gloucestershire for the William Morris Society.
In 2003, Emma and Chris relocated to Pembrokeshire, where they raised their sons. Emma continued her work with curtains and garment alterations, but it was the region’s rich wildlife and natural beauty that sparked a new direction in her artistry. Inspired by her surroundings, she developed a distinctive cushion collection, laying the foundation for what would become Seaforth Designs.
In March 2023, Chris joined Emma in the Seaforth journey, and together they proudly opened the doors to their SEAFORTH home store.