interview
Celebrating 20 years with Donna Wilson
Renowned for her distinctive use of colour and pattern, Donna’s designs are infused with a playful sense of humour, love of nature and a life-long passion for craft and making.
Born in rural Aberdeenshire in the north of Scotland, Donna Wilson founded her London design studio in 2003, after graduating from the Royal College of Art. That same year Couverture was the very first shop to stock Donna’s knitted dolls.
As her collection has expanded from curious knitted creatures to colourful homeware, knitwear and accessories, so has her appeal, earning her a devoted following of design enthusiasts, collectors, and the young at heart.
Two decades later Couverture celebrates this momentous landmark with a window installation dedicated to the anniversary Autumn / Winter 2023 Collection.
We are so proud to have been your first ever stockist. What initially drew you to Couverture?
I’d been only moved to London from Aberdeen in 2000, and started at the RCA in 2001, my tutor there was Freddie Robins, who was familiar with Couverture. She thought it would be a good fit, so suggested I get in touch, I remember clearly going along with my bag full of dolls, and nervously introducing myself as a student at the RCA, I showed the shop assistant my dolls and they told me to leave them there as they would show them to Emily. I got a phone call shortly after saying that Emily loved them and they would take them all, I remember feeling so excited and pleased with myself! That was the start of a long relationship, where I’d make around 20 dolls for couverture a month which helped pay my rent through college!