Hello I’m Alice,

I’m a textile artist living on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds.

As a small child my grandmother taught me to sew. We spent hours in her sewing room, to me it was an Aladdin’s cave. Antique buttons, heavy black scissors, vintage thread spools and piles of patterned fabric - projects just waiting to come to life. My Grandfather was Senior Herald at the College of Arms, exposing me at a young age to the exceptional work of heraldic painters and this ancient English tradition. I’m certain this is where my love for heritage crafts and appreciation for all things made by the human hand comes from.

After completing my BA in costume design I began a career as a buyer in the film industry. I worked on films such as Aladdin, Napoleon, Cruella, House of the Dragon and The Favourite. Tasked with sourcing extraordinary hand made textiles and the finest silks from around the world, I was hooked on textiles and colour! I set off on a research trip to South East Asia to learn as much as I could about traditional textile processes. It was on this trip that I discovered how much I adore the art of surface design. From then on I knew I wanted to train as a textile artist. Learning from the finest artists in film, this is where I really mastered the art of dyeing, screen printing and ageing costumes. As a textile artist in film, it is our job to turn something ordinary into something that tells a story. My years in film have taught me that beauty lives in the detail.

It was on maternity leave I realised film hours were incompatible with family life and a desire to work for myself inspired me to create my business. I studied pattern design on Bonnie Christine’s Immersion course and it has been such a joy to return to my personal creativity.

As someone who believes home should feel cosy and joyful, I create quality products that combine my love of storytelling, nature and British heritage - welcome to Alice Herring. I invite you to take a look around, follow me on instagram @aliceherringdesign and sign up to my newsletter for updates from the studio.

All my products are proudly made in the UK.

A woman with blonde hair, wearing a beige knit hat and a dark jacket, is holding a baby dressed in warm clothing, including a white knit hat with a pom-pom and a plush beige hat. They are outdoors on a sunny day with a dirt path and bare trees in the background.

Get to know me…

A small black curly-haired puppy sits on a beige and floral-patterned fabric, surrounded by matching pillows.

This is Juno, she’s our little jack-a-poo and she’s a big distraction when I’m trying to settle down to a sewing project.

Group of women dressed in colorful traditional Mexican clothing, with some balancing trays on their heads, participating in a cultural dance or celebration outdoors, with palm trees and a blue wall in the background.

A day I will never forget was filming the parade scene in Aladdin. Drummers, dancers, acrobats, animals and Will Smith! This scene alone took five days to film. Probably one of the most satisfying creative experiences of my life.

A person's feet in brown boots standing on a ground covered with fallen leaves and green grass.

I love the sound of frosty, wintry leaves underfoot.

A young girl with butterfly wings holding a large branch of pink flowers. A label in the top right reads "The Lady's Smock Fairy."

I love the Flower Fairy illustrations. They really evoke a sense of wonder in me, presenting nature in such a magical way. I used to be captivated by the detail as a child.

Color swatch sample book with various colors of threads or yarns in organized rows.

I adore antique shade and sample books. This one was from the excellent Colour Revolution-Victorian Art, Fashion and Design exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum.

Cityscape of historic European town with colorful and stone buildings, church spires, and cloudy sky at sunrise or sunset.

I feel very lucky to live so close to the beautiful city of Oxford. I took this photo from the tower of University Church of St Mary the Virgin, in the middle of winter.