Speakers

Carrie Brightley is a British printed textile designer and the founder of Wear the Walls. With over a decade of experience in the interiors industry, she has designed for some of the UK’s most iconic and influential brands, including Liberty London and House of Hackney. 

Carrie graduated with a degree in Printed Textiles from Leeds College of Art in 2011. From a young age, she was drawn to pattern, colour, and storytelling through print, finding early inspiration in the work of William Morris, Josef Frank, and Celia Birtwell. Their ability to blur the lines between art, fashion, and interiors would go on to shape her own creative philosophy. 

Following several years working at the highest level of British print design, Carrie founded Wear the Walls in 2020 as a natural extension of her desire to merge fashion-led print with timeless interior products. Originally conceived as a fashion-focused brand, Wear the Walls evolved into a homewares studio during its launch year, allowing her hand-painted designs to live more permanently within living spaces. 

Carrie creates every design from scratch in her in-house studio, meticulously painting each print by hand before developing it across a considered range of interior products. Her work is deeply influenced by the rugged North Coast of Cornwall, where she lives and works, drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, wild flora, and ever-changing light. 

A passionate advocate for slow production and responsible design, Carrie champions made-to-order manufacturing, minimal waste, and ethical practices throughout her work. Wear the Walls operates with a strong Made in England ethos, supporting British manufacturing, maintaining a transparent supply chain, and reducing environmental impact. 

Carrie runs the business from her Cornish home alongside her husband Tom, with studio companions Geoff the French Bulldog and Norm the cat never far from the creative process.