Meet India Whalley, founder of The Dot Project and Edition 94 contemporary Homewares Store in Fulham, London

Each month Charli meets friends of the brand and clients to find out a little more about who they are, what they do and what drives them

India Whalley, Founder & Creative Director of Edition 94 and The Dot Project, Contemporary Art Space.

1. Firstly, talk us through your morning routine.

I’m up by 7am, and my boyfriend thankfully always does the tea and coffee, i’m more of a tea person first thing. If I have an appointment for The Dot Project, that usually happens early and from our living room, if not, I’ll usually go straight in to The Edition 94. Every morning is different, if I’m doing a sourcing trip I’ll leave as soon as I’ve showered and drive up to three hours to spend the day sourcing, so it just depends!

2. We're obsessed with your store, the Edition 94, what was it that inspired you to start it?

Thank you! The store started as The Dot Project, a contemporary art gallery that I had in the same space. I studied interior design at the Inchbald and worked as an interior designer before opening the gallery. After a few years I decided to turn the space into a lifestyle homeware and concept store and move the gallery to a by appointment only model at my house. It was a very natural step and I have noticed that when art is placed in an interior setting it sells much better!

3. What is your favourite piece in the store right now?

I have to say the Rougier clam that we have in the window at the moment. My mum had a set of two at home when I was growing up, and has refused to let me keep these! So when I started sourcing for The Edition 94, I knew that I had to get my hands on one. They’re so unusual and the designer has so much history, it was a very lucky find.

4. Where is the best place to find vintage treasures?

Auctions in English seaside towns are great, Paris too.

5. How does sustainability come into what you do?  

So many pieces in the store are pre-owned, each with their own story, giving these pieces a new lease of life which is sustainable in itself. The pieces that are not vintage will be vintage some day because they’re hand crafted by small artisans and are items that one will keep forever (I hope!).

6. On an ideal day where would you have breakfast, lunch and dinner in London?

Broadway market has some lovely independent breakfast spots, so somewhere there. I usually miss lunch when i’m on the go! And for dinner anywhere Indian, whether it’s going to a restaurant or a take-away, i’m obsessed with spice.

7. What does your work wardrobe consist of?

It’s very simple, usually jeans and converse with a comfy jumper in winter. Oh, and a scrunchie always.

8. What is it about soft, oversized knitwear that you love? How do you usually wear them?

I love that you don’t need to think about it, it’s easy. You throw it on with jeans and it’s totally effortless.

9. What interior trend do you like right now?

Anything vintage and antique, pieces with a story to tell or a past for us to imagine.  

10. What can we expect from the Edition 94 this year?

We’re sourcing non-stop every day, we have some items that we’re desperate to find, vintage ones that are hard to source but we have our fingers crossed. You can expect to see a lot more vintage and also pieces that are timeless, be these antique or contemporary.

11. Top 3 tips for laying a table?

Firstly, don’t be afraid to mix and match, use vintage items along contemporary handmade pieces, and flowers and candles are a must.

India wears Faya Cropped Cabe Knit in Tangerine – available here

@indiawhalley

theedition94.com/

thedotproject.com/