Emily from Dollis Goods
Emily, the founder of Dollis Goods, is a London-based designer and artisan specialising in creating beautifully crafted bags.
Her timeless designs combine practicality and durability for everyday use. Whether serving as elegant storage solutions, sophisticated travel organisers, or eco-friendly alternatives to traditional gift wrap, each bag is thoughtfully made to last.
Every bag is handcrafted with care using carefully sourced woven fabrics and finished with french seams for strength and a beautiful finish.
Find our curated collection of Dollis Goods handcrafted bags here.
I’m based in East London. I’ve been working on DOLLIS from my flat for years but I’ve been lucky enough to find a studio space recently which has been such a positive impact on my productivity. It feels like such a treat to have a separate work space.
How did your brand / company begin?
I had always been interested in learning to sew but just never had the chance to learn the skill growing up. My partner bought me a sewing machine for Christmas in 2017 and I was hooked. It felt like magic (and still does). From there I just wanted to keep increasing my skill and confidence in sewing so I continued to sew as much as I could around my full time job.
My focus has been on bags and I find them infinitely enjoyable. I love the challenge of working out how to incorporate certain design functions, like internal card slots, hidden pockets, or achieving a certain shape. A few years in I decided to do a month long tailoring course which really elevated my skills and taught me so much about the craft and detail of such an intricate practice and I was really happy to be able to incorporate that into my own designs and techniques. I think the main take away is that I didn’t learn to sew with the view of starting my own brand, I just wanted to learn as much as possible and the brand came after that and grew on its own.
What does a typical day at your studio look like?
It depends what my workload is like that day and I tend to work best if I’ve made a to do list the night before. If I’ve got an order to make, I like to take advantage of the mornings and get to the studio as early as possible. I scran some breakfast and make sure I have a packed lunch for later. Or if I’ve got admin work to do, I normally do that at home with a coffee in the morning and make it to the studio by the afternoon to do the practical work.
How would you describe your company ethos?
I’m aware that it’s important to leave room for a young brand to develop so really I don’t put too much emphasis on having an ethos that is set in stone. I will say that things I find important in life generally will naturally be part of DOLLIS such as being environmentally conscious, looking on the bright side and not taking things too seriously.
Where did the inspiration for your pieces on the C et C website come from?
DOLLIS is about the functional and the everyday use. Sometimes I’m totally inspired by a particular fabric or hardware but most of my inspiration comes from quite a practical standpoint. What bag would be useful when cycling or when commuting or when on holiday? What pockets would be useful? Workwear is always a good jumping off point for this. I’m also so inspired by film and tv, photography, design, seasons, it’s never ending.
How long does each piece take to make?
My drawstring bags take a few hours. It’s important for me to minimise waste so most of that time is spent cutting multiple bags and making sure I’m using the fabric in the most economical way possible. It’s also important for the finishes to be super clean so using French seams takes longer than using an overlocker but it’s worth it!
How does your design process work from idea to finished product?
I tend to sketch first and try to make a first sample as soon as possible while the idea is fresh in my head. The first sample is made in calico and then the second will be in a fabric which is closer to the final fabric. It’s always so exciting to see the first couple of samples come to life!
What do you listen to or watch while you work?
I like to listen to podcasts like Distraction Pieces with Scroobius Pip. He’s a great interviewer and really gets into each conversation. Listening to something like that when doing practical work really gets me in the zone.
Who inspires you?
Anyone in the performing arts which is strange because I have no desire to be in that industry but I think this comes from listening to so many podcast interviews with actors/directors. Just understanding how much work goes into creating a film or tv series. You need to have a strong passion and drive to prove your abilities every day, be ok with rejection and overcome your imposter syndrome. I just find that really commendable and a good basis for anyone to tackle work whatever the industry. I read that Jodie Comer said she went for the role of the one woman play Prima Facie (which is the best play I’ve ever seen btw) because she told herself “If I don’t do it someone else will” and she realised then she needed to play that role. I like to think of that in my own work and tell myself, if I don’t make this product or learn this skill or go for this opportunity then I'll miss out.
Don’t force it. Take a break, read something, go to an exhibition, watch trash tv. It will come back. Might as well get that admin work out the way in the meantime!
Linen will always be a favourite for me, being a natural fibre it’s so versatile and that’s important for DOLLIS as a brand. I also absolutely love a good twill or waxed cotton or canvas. The next project is going to be a collaboration with FatBoy Zine, we’re making aprons for his upcoming supper club! We’ve collaborated before on food related accessories, ie a lunch bag and food wraps. So this time it’ll be fun to take a slight lean into the world of workwear.
What are you reading at the moment?
Morvern Callar. I’ve heard the film be recommended dozens of times so I’m reading the book first then I’ll watch the film.
What does a typical weekend look like?
It’s a mix of studio time and social time. I’m not currently working on DOLLIS full time so I work on ideas over the weekends when I can. Normally I’m doing work in the studio in the morning and then meet friends for drinks at the pub. Perfect.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share with other artists?
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. I’m still trying to live by this and seek out opportunities, it’s rare that things will always come to you. What’s the worst that could happen?
