Maker Monday: An ASPIRE Exclusive Interview With Stephanie Moffitt

At MOKUM Studio, the top priority is creating luxury textiles and wallpapers uniquely designed and handcrafted from the finest materials. Since joining the MOKUM team at age 22, Stephanie Moffitt has represented this mission with every design. Now, the Design Director of MOKUM, she continues to dedicate time and passion to bringing consumers the statement-making wallpapers and textiles they need. Her goal is to “create textiles that have longevity, that speak to trends but can suit a client or the personal taste of the end-user.” This philosophy has led MOKUM to create unforgettable designs for both commercial and residential clients. Introducing this week’s Maker Monday, Stephanie Moffitt of MOKUM Studio.


This chair is made with plush Alpaca Velvet, which was woven in Italy and dyed in a blush pantone. It was featured in The Gallery restaurant at Sketch London.

Andrew Joseph: What’s your design pet peeve?
Stephanie Moffitt: Fabrics stretched on a canvas and hung as art is my pet peeve. I’m not a fan of every surface being plastered in fabrics. Don’t get me wrong I love, with a capital L, textiles, but I love them in the context of other materials, mixing art, ceramics, textiles, soft and hard surfaces, combined in an interior space. It’s the combination of design elements which makes an interior beautiful and personal.

Andrew: What’s something you always travel with?
Stephanie: Annie Moir! Wherever possible, Annie and I try to travel together to visit International trade fairs and mills. It’s very hard to design in isolation, we are both big fans of collaboration and believe two minds are better than one. We also push each other forward during the day to maximize our meetings or during design and color development at a mill visit, as the days are often very long, we help each other stay motivated and awake if jetlagged!


The linen drapery has hand-painted then digitally printed peonies placed on it. Once you take a closer look at it, you can also see the bumblebees which were carefully included.

Andrew: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
Stephanie: I don’t want to sound too cheesy but my dream project is actually working with Catherine Martin and her team. I love film so getting to collaborate with her on a range inspired by her latest film project, and getting an insight into her world is a total dream! Her world-class projects are always so inspirational, Catherine has collaborated with some of the world’s most influential artists and designers with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada. Everyone we have met and worked with in the Bazmark team are open, humble and beyond friendly, the quality of their past and current team is a great credit to Catherine and Baz.

Andrew: What is the last book you read?
Stephanie: I have actually just finished both Booker prize winners, Margaret Atwood’s Testaments and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. Completely different topics but both are fantastic reads, and as a feminist I loved seeing two progressive, powerful books written by women about women, winning this coveted literary prize.


The team at Mokum use world-class technicians to finely weave their Canvas designs. This allows the watercolor layers of their original artwork to be captured in the finished textiles.

Andrew: Style (or design) icon?
Stephanie: I have always admired the creativity and style of musician, poet and novelist Patti Smith. I have been lucky to have seen her perform live a number of times and my favorite performance was her playing her entire seminal album Horses in Sydney at the State Theatre. I love her punk aesthetic and even paid a small homage to her by getting a matching lightning bolt tattoo, similar to the one she has on her knee. However the origins of its inspiration are often reinterpreted, especially by a nine-year-old daughter who thinks it’s a Harry Potter scar!


About The Maker | Stephanie Moffitt, design director of New Zealand–founded textile company Mokum, a subsidiary of James Dunlop Textiles, began her career in 1993 when she was just 22 years old, fresh out of Wellington design school.

Since then, Moffitt has risen through the company and moved to Sydney, Australia to lead Mokum’s design team. From the Sydney based studio, Mokum creates accessible luxury textiles and wallpapers developed with the finest International mills from around the globe. Mokum is designed with a unique perspective, born of place. Our fabrics are distinctive and statement-making, focused on creative expression. Quality is paramount, with all fabrics being both beautiful and practical to reflect our Antipodean lifestyle.

Over the past 40 years Mokum has built a significant and loyal following within it’s two established home markets, Australia and New Zealand, and successfully expanded global distribution into export markets throughout Asia, Canada, North America and Russia.

Since 2009 the Mokum studio has collaborated with Academy award winning costume and production designer, Catherine Martin. Martin, an Australian born designer, is a partner in Bazmark Inq along with director Baz Luhrmann, together producing world renowned film, theatre and entertainment. Mokum and Martin’s collaboration has seen the release of four collections under Catherine Martin by Mokum, and this year are commencing their fifth collection inspired by Bazmark’s forthcoming film.

Stephanie’s latest design projects include launching this year Mokum’s La Primavera collection inspired by the feminine design movement and visual optimism.
James Dunlop Textiles is a global textile wholesaler bringing you the very best in textile design, technology, quality and service. As an international converter and wholesaler of premium furnishing fabrics, they are recognized globally as one of the preeminent brands. Sourced from specialist textile mills from around the world, their products and expertise include high quality upholstery, drapery and wallcoverings suitable for residential and commercial applications. James Dunlop Textiles success stems from a genuine passion for product and a desire to exceed customer expectations at all levels for the past 100 years.


Andrew Joseph is a regular contributing editor for ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME magazine. See more of his work here

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