Meet Millie Thomas, 25, founder of Studio Mito, a playful and luxurious weave studio producing homeware and providing a bespoke textile service.

Read Millie’s feature with UKFT Rise below:

My background is in… Woven Textile Design. I graduated from Central St Martins in 2018 from BA Textile design, specialising in Woven Textiles.

I decided to start my business because… after working in the industry for a few years and gaining knowledge in different areas of the woven textile design industry, I realised my passion was in woven fabric design, especially silk Jacquard fabrics. Throughout my degree I worked predominantly with silk and jacquard weaving and I wanted to find a way to manufacture fun and modern fabrics within the UK. I always knew I wanted to start my own design studio and this was my path in life – there is no time like the present!

Something that really helped in getting my business off the ground is… my studio space at the business incubator Cockpit Studios. I am currently on the Clothworkers’ Company Award which provides graduate weavers with a subsidised studio space, a business coach and access to state of the art looms and equipment. This gave me the perfect springboard and support network to launch my own design studio – Studio Mito.

An area of business I’d like to gain more knowledge of is… everything! From marketing to finances – I have learnt so much about every element of running a business over the last few years and I will never know all there is to know! I have a tendency to want to do everything at once but the key to success is to build a solid foundation and grow organically.

Three important qualities for an entrepreneur are… vision – you have to have a solid goal post you want to strive towards and every decision you make – big or small – should be made with that vision in mind. You must also have a lot of resilience and accept that things will change, people will say no sometimes and life doesn’t always go to plan! For me, the most important thing is to have ideas. You can always find a way as long as you have creativity and unlimited ideas.

A UKFT Rise subscriber I find inspiring would be… Alicia Rowbotham – we actually share a studio together and are on the same award at Cockpit Studios. I am constantly in awe of how she can transform waste industrial silk into luxurious artworks and objects. It has been invaluable to have someone to bounce ideas off, get advice from and share the experience of establishing our own businesses together. I am really excited to become a UKFT Rise subscriber to expand my network and meet other designers!

Something happening in the industry that’s inspiring me right now is… there has been a massive shift in people investing in their homes and interiors. I think the pandemic showed people how important it is to be happy and feel safe in your own space. People have consciously started supporting and buying from individual makers and designers opposed to big companies.

A change I’d like to see in the industry would be… more support for small business start ups, makers and studios. When you begin to manufacture your own fabrics and products most companies require large minimum orders. When you are just starting out this can be a massive roadblock. We are the next generation of designers and so building and cementing those relationships now is what will keep mills and manufacturers alive in the future.

British textiles is important… as all of my jacquard fabrics are woven here in the UK at a silk mill in Macclesfield. The UK used to be one of the major manufacturing hubs of woven fabrics in the world and over the last few decades this has shrunk to almost nothing. There are so many skills and so much knowledge that we must keep championing to ensure we don’t lose! I am really passionate about keeping all of my manufacturing within the UK, supporting local industries and making the finished products and fabrics more sustainable.

What are your achievements and how have they shaped your career?

Studying at Central St Martins provided me with a solid foundation of technical knowledge and these skills along with the network of people I met whilst I was there set me off on a good path. It is a hub of dreamers and ideas and knowing that world exists and that our skills and knowledge are valuable instilled such a strong drive within me. I have taken part in several shows such as the London Design Festival and Top Drawer which have all been very memorable and opened lots of doors for me.

I define sustainability as… creating products whilst considering the full impact, from manufacturing responsibly, working and supporting small businesses and makers to the physical materiality of the product – natural fibres, responsibly sourced materials etc.

Do you have any exciting news to share for 2022?

I will be taking part in London Craft Week in May where I will be debuting my first collection of more fine art based work. I am also working towards releasing my second collection of woven fabrics in September.

VISIT THE STUDIO MITO WEBSITE