The Colour Press is a Brixton-based company that is making positive social change through artisan stationery for South London. Founded by Emma Powell, a landscape architect, The Colour Press operates from a railway arch in Loughborough Junction where Emma creates handmade and bespoke stationery, special occasion cards and invitations from sustainable materials using a vintage letterpress machine to emboss her artwork and designs into paper.
After running “crafternoons” with friends, Emma realised the power of individuals and groups coming together to connect, share and learn artisan skills. She now runs workshops in her studio for people from all backgrounds where they learn how to design and produce their own custom-made pieces. “Workshops are an absolute hoot and are one of my favourite things to do,” she says. “Meeting and teaching new people about letterpressing makes me happy. “It is a great way to get creative, build on ideas, get lost in a sea of letters and think about what it is you want to say to the world.”
Emma is now joining a life coach Just Jaz to create a programme of craft sessions for wellbeing and positive mental health. “You will be overwhelmed with the sense of satisfaction that is achieved by creating your design with your own hands,” Emma says. “Every day in my studio I experiment with how my cards can capture and explore these feelings in paper form. I love the power that colour has to impact how we feel”
The Colour Press was part of the Brixton Design Trail and Camberwell Open Arts Studio this year. You can join the Mind and Print Workshop, a day of life coaching, positivity and letterpress manifestos here or put in Christmas card orders at www.thecolourpress.co.uk.
The Colour Press is supported by Hatch Enterprise which offers business skills training for social enterprises and mission-driven businesses, BAME female founders, and young adults. Training includes: business modelling, sales and finance, marketing, impact measurement, branding, pitching, investment readiness, storytelling, goal setting. Post-programme support with our South London startup community
