Sophie Conran

Sophie Conran is an English designer, cook and author.

Family

Conran is the daughter of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and food writer Caroline Conran.cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/celebrity-offspring-one-degree-of-separation-432007.html |title=Celebrity offspring: One degree of separation - People, News - The Independent |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-01-14|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZWc9UWjB|archivedate= 2008-07-23|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-23] She is the sister of fashion designer Jasper Conran,cite web |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/7days/story/0,,1821521,00.html |title=Pendennis | 7 Days | The Observer |author= Carl Wilkinson|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2006-07-16|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZWoOxccZ|archivedate= 2008-07-23|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-23] restaurateur Tom, artist Edmund and product designer Sebastian. Sophie has two children, Felix and Coco. [Citation | last =Palazzi |first =Lynne |author-link = |publication-date =2007-10-15 |title =Decorating Secrets from a Pro |periodical =InStyle |series = |publisher = |volume =Vol. 14 |issue =Fall/Winter2007|pages = p62-67 |url = |issn =10760830 |accessdate =]

Career

After leaving school at 17, Conran worked as an apprentice for couture milliner Stephen Jones before joining the fashion team at the studio of her brother Jasper. Following this thorough immersion in the fashion world, Conran interior-designed apartments and show flats in the Butler’s Wharf development and overhauled the Design Museum Shop’s collections where she also acted as a buyer. At the same time, she worked as a buyer for The Conran Shop and eventually launched her own store ‘Wong Singh Jones’ (W11). Nicknamed ‘corner shop to the world’, it showcased a selection of cultural icons.

At 20, Conran bought her Bayswater flat, then a cluster of unpromising bed-sits. She reunited the rooms, renovated and decorated throughout. Shown to friends and family, private interior design commissions followed. Her base to this day, Conran recently bought a small adjoining flat, renovated it and incorporated it into her beautiful home.

In the early 90’s, Conran lived in Australia her where projects included design direction and new product development for the home-wares range of Country Road. Whilst there, she fell in love with a rammed-earth shack tucked away in the rugged terrain of the state of Victoria. The shack was but a shell, replete with outside loo.

On returning to the UK, Conran worked for her father accessorising his restaurants whilst renovating a dilapidated farm in Devon, rearing pigs and growing vegetables. With a large garden Conran’s horticultural skills, honed in Australia and at the Chelsea Physic Garden, were put to good use. After a few years Jasper tempted her back to work as a Colour Director and then as a Product Manager in an variety of areas. Ties remain close with Conran stepping in to help on Jasper’s Sackville Street townhouse store before the 2005 opening.

Sophie Conran Pies,cite journal|date=2004-11-18|title=We love...pies|journal=Caterer & Hotelkeeper|volume=Vol. 193|issue=Issue 4350|pages=p22-23|issn=0008-7777] a capsule collection of gourmet pies launched in 2004cite news|title=Pie and mighty|last=Slater|first=Lydia|date=2004-05-12|work=Features, Truly scrumptious|publisher=The Sunday Times|pages=p73] -winners of 4 Fine Food Awards in 2005 - were not her first foray into the food world. Back in her twenties Conran first created a supper club and then collaborated with brother, Tom.cite news|title=Just like daddy used to make|last=Pigott|first=Sudi|date=2004-11-13|work=Features, Food & Drink|publisher=The Times|pages=p102|accessdate=] Together they set up a catering company, an experience that helps in her role as patron for Breakthrough for Breast Cancer’s Breakthrough Banquet initiative, now in its second year.

Conran’s debut cookbook – Pies - was published in November 2006 by Harper Collinscite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2007/11/18/st_sophieconran.xml |title=The knowledge: how to teach your children to cook - Telegraph |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-11-18|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZWnj3SrU|archivedate= 2008-07-23|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-23] (£12.99). She has written food & entertaining stories for many UK titles and for the last two years has been a contributing editor to Junior magazine with a double Food Notes page. Conran is currently working on two new cookbooks, the first of which – Soups & Stews - will be published by Collins on the 6th of October 2008.

In March 2006, Conran’s 60 piece kitchen and tableware range for Portmeirion launched nationwide in the UK.cite news|title=Live like a Conran|last=Anstead|first=Mark |date=2006-03-26|publisher=The Sunday Times|accessdate=] Its success – including an Elle Deco Style Award for Best in Kitchens 2006 (currently sold in 55 countries). The range has expanded to 120 pieces. Her collection launched in the USA in June 2006.cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2006/03/08/garden/20060309_CURR_SLIDESHOW_4.html |title=The New York Times > Home & Garden > Slide Show > Currents: London |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZWnUx3xU|archivedate= 2008-07-23|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-23] cite news|title=CURRENTS: LONDON -- KITCHENWARE; For Oven or Table (Careful: It's Hot)|last=Lane|first=Mallery Roberts |date=2006-03-09|publisher=New York Times|pages=p3] In December 2007, Conran was a designer in the Save the Children's Festival of Trees fundraising event.cite web |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/opinion-former-index/children-and-family/save-childrens-festival-trees-fundraising-event-$482604.htm |title=Save the Children's festival of trees fundraising event |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-12-05|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate=|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-23]

In 2007, Sophie collaborated with Notting Hill chocolate boutique Melt, to create a sublime chocolate, inspired by sweet pies from her first book 'Sophie Conran's Pies'. The chocolate uses a combination of flavours including Earl Grey tea, ginger and cranberry.

In recent months, Conran has completed a couple of new design projects. Her re-designed Drummonds of Chelsea showroom launched in May 2008 and a series of wall-coverings, created for Arthouse, have just started to be sold exclusively in B&Q stores nationwide.

Links

http://www.sophieconran.com

http://www.meltchocolates.com

http://www.portmeirion.co.uk

http://www.arthouse.com

Notes