The Guardian Interiors Directory Feb 2008

Emily Readett-Bayley is featured in the Guardians Interior Directory 2008, where over 1,000 individual listings testify to the support of small, independently owned shops run with dedication and expertise in defiance of conglomerates and chains taking over the world!

If ever an area demanded personal service, surely it’s interiors. Homes are changing: instead of describing the boundaries of a woman’s world, they are often the workplace for either or both sexes. And, as furniture design becomes ever more sophisticated, home is, more and more where art is. But whatever you want the contemporary home to say about you, using a specialised shop like Emily Readett-Bayley and POSH Graffiti can help you say it.

Emily studied Theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art and it was a trip to Bali as production manager with a theatre company in 1989 that inspired her to start her own business. Impressed by the skills of the mask makers, tailors, leather workers and woodcarvers she set about combining her design ideas with the traditional skills of the local people.

Emily started with her own retail shops in the West End of London and inspired by the interest from journalists and trade buyers she launched her first full wholesale range in London in 1997.

This included a perfectly timed bamboo collection which went on to sell to shops and interior designers around the world.

Today Emily Readett-Bayley is a respected brand and our best selling POSH GRAFFITI is An inspiration

Our Engaged Ethics

All our products are handmade by craftspeople working in small village groups in Indonesia.

Emily works closely with them to make sure that her designs are executed properly and traces the source of all natural materials used. Our teak is re-claimed from old bridges, our driftwood style furniture is made from old coffee trees and our POSH GRAFFITI and decorations are made from fast growing albesia wood.

Emily also studies the traditional skills of the people and tries to utilise the skills available rather than forcing people to change the way they work.

Young people are encouraged to learn the skills thus preserving them for future generations.

Indonesia has a reputation for cheap and cheerful handicrafts that does not do justice to the expertise of the producers. Our hand painted floral collection is an example of how beautiful objects can be produced if people are encouraged to make them. Customers have commented that it is hard to believe that our floral designs are hand painted because they are so good!

Emily’s husband is Balinese and his family and friends work with us in Bali. We have a vested interest in seeing the country progress through the difficult early stages of democratic development.

The fragility of the tourist industry has been evident following the series of disasters which have hit Indonesia since the fall of the Suharto Dictatorship in 1997.

The tsunami, SARS, bird flu and the double Bali bombings all stopped the tourist industry in its tracks. However the handicraft industry continued unabated and it is an important part of the economy employing many talented young people in desperate need of work.

We are committed to keeping our business in Bali and Java and we encourage you to visit Bali on holiday. It is as beautiful as ever!