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Barnaby Ash | Co-Founder & Designer Maker Dru Plumb | Co-Founder & Creative Director 

ASH & PLUMB 

Could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and what made you start the business? 

 

Dru and I met in 2013 whilst working in the fashion industry in London. I was working as Fashion Editor for Shortlist Magazine and Fashion Director of Shortlist MODE, whilst Dru was a PR Manager for a fashion and beauty agency, organising campaigns, events, shows and press days. 

Six months later we decided working in fashion was no longer fulfilling us and we chose to move to Australia, Dru’s home country, on a new path of discovery. We wanted to find something more fulfilling and to explore our relationship with nature. 

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During this time we lived in Perth, Sydney and Dunsborough, looking for the right place to call home. During our travels, we both worked a wide variety of jobs including working as Fashion Editor for GQ Australia for me and working as an Account Manager for a financial tech start-up for Dru. 

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Having both grown up in rural environments, myself in a small village just outside of Cambridge and Dru in Dunsborough, south-west Australia, we have always had a fascination with natural materials and fine craftsmanship, and wanted to learn how to create our own work, contributing to craft in our own unique way. 

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We decided to move back to the UK in 2017 with our lab-retriever Alfie and settled in Brighton. Eventually, we bought our first home and dedicated ourselves to learning new skills to renovate it, in the process, I taught myself some basic joinery to build a set of shelves in the kitchen, then proceeded to build half the furniture around the house! I completely fell in love with woodwork and soon discovered the art of woodturning. We decided to put our collective skills together and launch Ash & Plumb. The rest, as they say, is history! 

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What inspires your work? 

 

Our work is inspired by the material we collaborate with, we opt for designs that bring attention to the natural features of the wood and aspire to craft clean forms whilst avoiding any unnecessary fuss or decoration. We have a particular interest in the appearance of lightness, attracted to designs that use only what is needed without any unnecessary bulk. 

 

 
What is the most important thing for you in your business?

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To constantly challenge ourselves both technically and creatively to ensure an original evolution of ideas, ensuring the way we move forward builds upon the work we have already done as our brand matures. To do this while taking careful steps to guarantee the lowest possible environmental impact in all aspects of our business. 

 

A little story or an anecdote you would like to share?

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Our lives wouldn't be the same without our wonderful lab-retriever cross Alfie, he makes sure we get out for plenty of walks to keep us sane! And of course, every piece must get the nod of approval from him as our designated Quality Control Officer! 

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Based In: Brighton, East Sussex, UK 

Product Range: Handcrafted wooden home goods.  

Website: ashandplumb.co.uk

Instagram: @ashandplumb

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"HANDCRAFTED PIECES BRINGING OUT THE NATURAL FEATURES OF THE WOOD."

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