News
Camira manufactures custom moquette for student, Emily Whitlam
October 5, 2022byRebecca Hamer
The fabric on which our transport textile heritage is built, and one of our most loved fabric constructions to this day, we always love to meet a fellow moquette enthusiast - and we recently did just that!
Student Emily Whitlam reached out to us as she had created a custom moquette pattern as part of her GCSE Textiles course - a passionate and talented future designer, we were delighted to bring her fabric to life and weave it at our Huddersfield manufacturing facility, as well as finding out more about her design inspiration with a quick Q&A.
Where did you get your inspiration for your own Leicester moquette?
After Orbit kindly gave me a bus seat covered with red diamond moquette, it soon became apparent that the majority of my school buses' moquettes had been manufactured by Camira - a fact that I'd had confirmed after getting in touch with the company during my GCSE Fine Art course. My project, titled 'Connections', involved delving into the inner workings of public transport, and finding out how it connects people to places. I’m also taking GCSE Textiles, so I have an interest in fabrics and design.
Within this project, I looked closely at some of my favourite moquette designs (most of which can be found on Orbit buses) and recreated them in a compilation. I also researched the renowned moquette designer Enid Marx (who was an influential artist in the 1900s), using my new knowledge of what makes a good moquette design to create my own pattern. I named my design 'Leicester's Landmarks', inspired by the 'Barman' moquette which furnishes some of London's tube trains. My design incorporates five of Leicestershire’s well-known landmarks, including the Curve Theatre, the National Space Centre, Old John tower, the Clock Tower and ‘III’, representing King Richard III.
Within this project, I looked closely at some of my favourite moquette designs (most of which can be found on Orbit buses) and recreated them in a compilation. I also researched the renowned moquette designer Enid Marx (who was an influential artist in the 1900s), using my new knowledge of what makes a good moquette design to create my own pattern. I named my design 'Leicester's Landmarks', inspired by the 'Barman' moquette which furnishes some of London's tube trains. My design incorporates five of Leicestershire’s well-known landmarks, including the Curve Theatre, the National Space Centre, Old John tower, the Clock Tower and ‘III’, representing King Richard III.
Could you tell us about your favourite moquette?
My own personal favourite moquette designs include the now discontinued purple Central Trains fabric (which is now considered rare by collectors), as this moquette somehow ended up on one of my school buses! I also love the aforementioned red diamond moquette, which several East Lancs Cityzen bodied Scanias - one of my favourite types of buses - were adorned with. Finally, who could forget the Stagecoach chevron moquette which enhanced the interiors of many 1990 Leyland Olympians? All three of these moquettes were designed by Camira, but are sadly no longer in production.
Finally, what’s next for Emily Whitlam?
After finishing my GCSEs, I will be studying A Levels, including Graphics. I’ve really enjoyed incorporating my love of transport and design and hope in the future to be able to use this in my career.