DISCOVER SURFACE ART AUSTRALIA
Bold Prints. Timeless Style. Made to Last.
Meet the Maker: Moyra Jones
I'm Moyra Jones, founder and creative director of Surface Art Studio. My story starts in Scotland, where I trained in textile design. In the 90s I moved to Sydney and landed a job that would shape everything that followed: working alongside Ken Done, translating his bold, sun-drenched imagery into fabric.
How It Started
In 2000, I began selling handmade cushions and fabric by the metre at local markets, one folding table and a lot of hope. That small stall has grown into an Australian brand known for its bold prints, considered clothing, and a genuine commitment to doing things properly.
Design Philosophy
Fabric is where I put everything I love: mid-century abstraction, Scandinavian minimalism, 1950s interiors, 1970s graphics, and the natural world. Every print starts with a story. A daring scale. A clever repeat. A colourway nobody else would try. I design for longevity, so a piece you buy today still feels right in ten years.
From Fabric to Fashion
Customers loved the fabric but wanted to wear it. So I started making simple A-line skirts and tunic dresses, and that's how Essaye was born (the name comes from the initials of Surface Art). Essaye isn't chasing trends. It's well-made clothing built to last, released twice a year alongside year-round favourites like the Mikko range.
Theadora Jones, named for my mother, who taught me to sew long before it became a career, is the label closest to my heart. It began with customers asking for the dresses I'd made for myself, and grew into something bigger: small-batch garments, homewares, and fabrics I select personally. Once a fabric is gone, it's gone. No two runs are ever quite the same.
Made Close to Home
90% of what we make is produced within 5km of my studio in Sydney's Inner West, close enough that I can walk over and check on a production run (and occasionally do). I work directly with local makers I trust, and I'm hands-on with every stage of design and quality control. For digitally printed textiles, I work with a small, ethically run studio in China that specialises in short runs and meets strict labour and safety standards. Every step of the process matters to me, wherever it happens.
Visit the Studio
184 Norton Street, Leichhardt, Sydney
Fridays and Saturdays, 10am to 4pm, or by appointment during the week.
Come and say hello. The studio is the best place to see the latest collections, try things on, and hear the stories behind the prints in person. That's the part I love most.
Whether you sew, collect bold prints, or just want clothes that last, this is where it all comes from
