FIELD REPORT: EMILIA_JONES

‘Field Report’ is an editorial series hosted in collaboration with Purple Mountain Observatory and Ali George Hinkins. It seeks to showcase members of the wider creative community in PMO gear in their chosen field, whether a literal field, a modern cityscape, a workshop, or a studio space. We aim to dive deep into the subject’s interests, outlets, and disciplines while wearing the latest from Purple Mountain Observatory. 

For this edition of ‘Field Report,’ we connected with Emilia ‘Mills’ Jones, the founder and creative behind NOTS, the female-owned accessories brand, which sees traditional materials, such as rope, a staple in British textile heritage, recontextualised as bottle bags, earrings and crossbody bags. The name of the brand goes beyond an arbitrary title to one that harks at the very thing – rope – woven into NOTS products and DNA. The aesthetic strikes a beautiful balance between technical and artisanal, often reserved for decorated craftspeople, a category that Mills would comfortably fit in. 

Moving slightly away from just products, NOTS has put on several workshops on macrame and knitting where participants can try their hand. In addition to creating a greater sense of community around NOTS, these workshops seek to educate attendees on these crafting techniques. 

As a creative operating her small business out of a commercial studio space, Mills knows all too well the dilemmas of trying to heat such a space. High ceilings and open spaces aren’t (usually) associated with warmth. Luckily for Mills, Purple Mountain Observatory has just the clothing she needs to keep her warm and comfortable on those cold days up North. Thanks to the Sherpa Borg Fleece and Waves Light Puffer, she’ll be appropriately outfitted, whether conjuring up new concepts, working on existing designs, or being out in the peaks. PMO’s transitional apparel ensures you can comfortably move between outdoor and urban settings without a second thought about what you wear. 

Without further ado, let’s crack on with our conversation with Mills and learn about how NOTS was established and how the brand is redefining our relationship with accessories – aesthetically and functionally. 

AGH: Hi Mills. Could you introduce yourself? 

EJ: Hi, I’m Mills! I’m a maker, designer, and business owner based in Manchester. I also teach workshops on how to macrame and run creative clubs at a hobby house called Altogetherotherwise in central Manchester. I’m passionate about learning new skills and integrating them into my creative practice and sharing that knowledge with others to foster community and inspire creativity. 

AGH: Please tell us more about what ‘Nots’ is and why you started it.

EJ: At NOTS, our approach is playful. We combine a range of artisan techniques with more unorthodox materials. We are always learning, watching, and looking to remain unique and make statements wherever possible. 

NOTS was born from a love of climbing and the outdoors, but now we stand for so much more. I started NOTS in 2020 as a part-time hobby because my commercial design job wasn’t fulfilling my creative needs as I’d hoped. It’s brought so much joy to my life, and I’ve met so many amazing people because of it. 

AGH: You have captivated an outstanding balance between outdoor-inspired design and artisanal craft. How did this initially come together? 

EJ: Having started NOTS when everyone was getting outside because of lockdown, it was only natural for me to take inspiration from this. Then, as time has gone on, my personal style has evolved. It’s become much more feminine and city-inspired. This, paired with a lust for experimenting with new materials, has led to this lovely mix. 

AGH: Can you tell us which Purple Mountain Observatory products you selected for your ‘Field Report’ and why? 
EJ: I dress a lot for comfort and warmth. Working in a studio gets cold, as they’re such big, expensive spaces to heat. I picked out the Sherpa Borg fleece, which has been keeping me so cosy in my studio. Then I went for the waves light puffer, which is so plump and airy, again to also keep me warm whilst working. Finally, I went for the climate overshirt in grey as a taped option for all occasions, working, hiking, or city life. 

AGH: When you are in the studio daily, what kind of clothing do you wear and why? What do you prioritise? 

EJ: I love to be warm and cosy… I wear a lot of long skirts or very wide pants paired with soft knits or fleeces. I prioritise how things are made and the craft that’s put into them. This draws me to a product as I’m so intrigued by how it’s made or what craft/technique they’ve used. I really appreciate the construction and ingredients of a product, as well as warmth, texture, and cosiness. 

AGH: As a smaller brand, is it important for you to connect with brands of a similar size? 

EJ: I feel like smaller brands write their own rules more, and you can learn so much from them. I really enjoy working in collaboration with smaller brands, too. It’s fun, and you can tap into their expertise and make something beautiful. Also, I’m always up for making new friends and connections. I love having people to talk design to!!

AGH: Additionally, you have worked with partners like Carhartt WIP and The North Face. How does it feel to partner with bigger companies like this, and what opportunities does it afford you?  

EJ: It’s so strange. It feels normal to be approached by big brands like this, but it really is a pinch-me moment. Brands that are widely recognised in the industry wanting to work with a small brand like mine is so amazing. It’s really refreshing to see the big names supporting smaller businesses and not just copying our designs/ideas. It opens more opportunities to work with brands to develop new designs and workshop ideas. I’m hoping for a design collaboration opportunity from these partnerships one day – that’s the next goal. 

AGH: You recently unveiled customised versions of two iconic KEEN styles: the UNEEK and Newport H2 Sandals. How did this project come about, and what was the reception? 

EJ: It came about after networking in Paris during fashion week. I reached out to someone from KEEN about a potential collaboration, and they wanted to send me some of their classics to work on and put a NOTS spin on. KEEN is a brand I adore and wear all through spring and summer. The reception was so good, and it felt suitable for my customer. 

AGH: What kind of challenges do you come up against, and how do you overcome them?
EJ: As small business owners will know, doing everything is a curse and a blessing. Being able to creatively direct everything in my business is so amazing but also impossible to keep pushing and innovating every part of the business all at once. It leaves me with elements that aren’t where I want them to be; for example, social media plays such a big role in marketing your products, but it’s more of a third job for me (making and designing being the first and second). It takes a back seat, but it’s a catch-22. If you’re not promoting and reaching new audiences, you aren’t getting those orders and funds to develop new designs. 

AGH: We all appreciate how stressful a creative job can be; how do you unwind and decompress after a particularly taxing day?

EJ: It sounds strange, but being more creative decompresses me. I’m currently learning to hand-knit a sock. I’m also a very active person who is happiest when outside. I really enjoy high-intensity gym classes like Barre or HIIT. Running and hiking also help me clear my head and release all those good feelings.

AGH: We’ve seen on your grid that you have been getting out there and running. Has this activity recently become yours, and what is your reason for engaging in it? 

EJ: I’ve been running for a few years now. When I wasn’t drinking much, it was a really good way of socialising with people and keeping me occupied. I love exercising and being outside, so it was only natural that I picked up running. I think that, as a gym girlie who’s strength-trained for about seven years, it gets to a point where you want to find new ways of exercising to keep things interesting. 

Thanks, Mills, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to give us a rundown on NOTS and what happens behind the scenes. 

You can browse NOTS on Instagram (@n​​ots___) or via their website.