Catherine David: Design Edge Makes Splash

Catherine David Design Edge Makes Splash
Designer Catherine David's first run of black-and-white linens were made to furnish her own home and as a fresh graduate of architecture she thought she might sell a few extras to help cover costs.

Not only did she discover a market hungry for the cushions and bed linen handprinted with distinctive black fish, butterflies and astrological images but the range was archived in the Auckland Museum to mark a new style in soft furnishings.

Today, her popular lighting, bathroom, homeware and stationary ranges are stocked in 100 design stores in New Zealand and in about 60 more in Australia.

This month, one of her Splash! shower curtains won the bathroom category at the 2005 design awards of NZ Home and Entertaining magazine.

The judge commented: "It may only be vinyl and ink, but it is what has been one with these basic ingredients that creates a stand-out bathroom product. Fresh thinking and good graphics, along with sound execution and quality, are combined in this shower curtain design."

Shower curtains have been a growing section of the business after David connected with 20-year-old Auckland company Splash Out Plastics six years ago to produce a range for a Hong Kong department store.

She bought Splash Out 18 months ago and it now produces about 500 standard range and 300 custom-made shower curtains each