Meri Meri Meets Molly Mahon

Molly Mahon is an acclaimed British designer known for her exquisite block-printed textiles and wallpapers. Self-taught with a strong passion for traditional crafts, Molly has developed a distinctive style that blends vibrant colors and intricate patterns inspired by nature, travel and a love of decoration. Since launching her eponymous label in 2015, she has gained international acclaim for her beautiful designs. Molly lives in Sussex with her husband Rollo and their three children: Lani, Algie and Orlando. Here, she shares what drives her and how she approached the delightful new collection for Meri Meri.

Tell us about the new collection you’ve created in collaboration with Meri Meri

I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Meri Meri on our second joyful collection which showcases a lively mix of our block print designs on a fresh selection of vibrant homeware pieces including trays, coasters and placemats. These cheerful patterns, bursting with colour, are sure to bring joy and brighten any picnic or party no matter the season. From lively florals to dynamic geometric shapes, the designs are fun to mix and match, creating a beautiful tablescape.

Meri Meri x Molly Mahon Side Plates and Placemats

Molly, how did your passion for block printing begin and how has it shaped your creative journey so far?

It started at my kitchen table with small babes in Moses baskets crawling around my legs. Having run an events company, I was used to being busy and needed something to focus the mind while at home with the new babies. Creativity was inherent in my upbringing so I naturally turned to artistic outlets. I stumbled on block printing and it stole my heart and imagination, sparking a remarkable sense of personal elation.

Meri Meri x Molly Mahon Melamine Plates and Cups

We love your approach to colour and print. Could you share some of your guiding principles or theories when it comes to mixing and matching?

Listen to yourself. Go with your gut. Avoid any rules you may have heard. I feel free in my use of colour, somehow uninhibited by my surroundings. I choose colours that bring me joy and contentment. To me, putting colours together feels natural and fun. We live in a world bursting with colour and endless opportunities and I consistently capture and seize new colours and ideas as my life unfolds.

Could you describe your studio in East Sussex? Is it truly your ultimate happy place and how does it contribute to your creative process?

Turning our garage into my personal space for creativity was an absolute treat and something I’ll always be grateful for. It was a space away from the kitchen, the internet and the constant rhythm of family life, a place to breathe, reset, reenergise and be myself. The space was rustic and messy, perfect for experimenting, printing and creating.

As my family and their needs have grown, I’ve recently moved into a new studio near the office. The children now need a space of their own as they become teenagers, somewhere to be themselves away from pestering parents. I was also ready for a more professional, perhaps even commercial, environment. Still, it’s very much my happy space. I feel incredibly content when block printing. It stills the mind and calms the nerves. It feels wholesome and right to be creating pattern and I am eternally grateful to have found block printing. It has transformed my life.

You produce your designs in the UK but also have workshops in India. Can you tell us more about these workshops and what is produced there?

About 10 years ago I took myself to India to learn more about the art of block printing. I fell in love with the people, the energy, the colours and the different way of life. It’s a place full of hope, passion and real hard work. Over the years I’ve built relationships with a number of print studios, makers and creators in this wonderful artisanal world.

We now print all our fabrics by the metre at a studio in Delhi, employing the best printers we can find, craftspeople who’ve inherited their skills over generations. In a world that seeks perfection, we aim for the neatest prints while celebrating the maker’s mark. We embrace perfect imperfections, treating our fabrics as pieces of art. We also prioritise sustainability, using water-based paints and wooden blocks, and drying the fabrics in the breeze. There’s very little technology involved. The only sounds are the thud of the block and the pouring of chai to keep the energy up.

Since launching your label, you've achieved remarkable success from YouTube tutorials to collaborations and a published book. What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

Ah, thank you, it’s been an incredible journey. My proudest achievement is that this all started as a hobby at my kitchen table and has grown into a family-run business where life and work merge as one. I hope my children appreciate how hard Rollo and I work, why we do it and how it makes us feel, proud and useful. The fact that I now get to collaborate with brands like yours, which I’ve admired from afar, is quite something. These moments make putting everything on the line for M Mahon feel so worth it.

What do you think draws people to your block printing classes and what do they take away from the experience?

We are all creative. I truly believe that. For some reason many of us move away from art at a very early age. I think there’s a problem in the education system which doesn’t always recognise the importance of making things with our hands or spending quiet moments in focused creativity, whether it’s knitting, painting or printing.

Now more than ever, it's essential to balance screen time with hands-on work. It’s all about rhythm and focus or what we now call flow. People love our classes because they take them out of the daily grind and into a magical space of creativity. We come together as a community, sharing, chatting, relaxing and having fun. It helps that I host the classes in beautiful locations too, making it a perfect excuse for a fun day out with a friend. I loved meeting Meredithe at one of my classes last summer. We were printing and making lampshades.

Meri Meri x Molly Mahon Lanterns and Tableware

Could you walk us through your approach to the collection for Meri Meri? How do you envision your designs being used for summer celebrations and year-round interiors?

It was a real team effort between the two brands to create a lovely mix and match selection of fabric prints that work together. We wanted the collection to exude joy and delight, brightening any picnic or party whatever the time of year. We like to think our designs bring summer to the table all year round, even in the darkest winter months, especially here in the UK. The items are designed for versatile use and I hope they help elevate any special occasion or celebration.

Travel seems to be a significant source of inspiration for you. How does your exploration of different cultures and landscapes influence your creative direction?

I don’t travel far and wide but I do shuttle back and forth to India and yes, it has had a huge influence on my work. I felt an important call to use joyful colours as they do in India, on saris, trucks and buildings. Everywhere you look, there’s colour, pattern and a celebration of nature.

At home in the Ashdown Forest in Sussex, I find endless inspiration in my surroundings. My walks here fill me with gratitude. The multitude of greens and soft floral pinks like foxgloves, wild orchids and primroses all find their way into my patterns. I want to bring the feeling of these moments into my home all year round.