Since Alison Kent and Cindy Yu brought their artistic channels together to create local textile brand, JOUE Design, they have taken the Vancouver design scene by storm. With each pattern created first as a painted artwork and then transitioned into a fabric design, JOUE has found a fresh platform to introduce fine art into the home: throw pillows and textiles. With the label catching the attention of those in the know, recent collaborations have included local influencers Sydney Socias of The Working Girl (this collection has partial proceeds supporting BC Children’s Hospital), Aleem Kassamof Kalu Interiors and artist Dana Mooney.
How did you get started and what led you to where you are now?
Alison Kent: We have been friends – and actually cousins through a couple of marriages – for a while, and had started talking about how much we were craving a creative outlet that our "day jobs" just weren't fulfilling. We both love textiles, décor, art and fashion, so JOUE was a pretty natural extension of that when we talked about starting a business together.
What colour best describes your personality?
Colour, I think, best describes us – as you can tell from the majority of our textiles! We love pops of blues or pinks or deep-set purples. We derive many of our colors from nature, which can range from muted to bold.
When it comes to style/design, what is the one thing you covet the most?
Personality. You can't just copy Instagram or Pinterest – your style and the way you design your life and your spaces can't come out of a box or a store. It has to incorporate you – the funky object you bought on a memorable vacation, the painting you did in Grade 11 that you were so proud of, the first necklace your kid made for you, the seashell you found on the beach.
Do you have any predictions for the future of your industry?
We love how technology is being incorporated into decor, so perhaps a bigger tie-in with that, while maintaining our art-inspired design aesthetic. We love how consumers are starting to value locally made over mass-produced – this trend is just beginning and will continue to grow.
How would you describe Vancouver's artistic/creative community?
AH-mazing! We're just off IDS Vancouver this past weekend, and it's incredible to us not only how many absolutely professional, talented makers there are in this city and around the world (there was a contingent from the Netherlands this year), but how open, friendly and supportive everyone is to each other. We seriously feel honoured to be a part of it.
Some people collect old typewriters and cameras. Do you collect anything?
We both collect vintage, especially from flea markets in Paris or London. We love the old patinas of time. I'm also a big beachcomber, so my home is filling up with broken little found bits all the time, and Cindy has a pretty good collection of driftwood objects! And, naturally we've both developed a pretty good throw pillow collection over the past three years!
Who is your idol or mentor?
We're immensely inspired by older female makers who are still at it, and creating more than ever. It's not an easy task, to turn away from steady desk jobs to a entrepreneurial creative life – we're forever inspired by the community around us all doing the same thing, and sharing each other's struggle and successes. We go for a lot of coffee dates with a wide variety of mentors or peers to share information and encourage one another.
