TUCKED away on Beach Road, Torquay, a community of sewers and quilters catch up while working on textile creations in a shop filled with bright contemporary fabrics thanks to a former nurse’s passion for patchwork.
Over the past 17 years, Amitié Textiles (Amitié meaning friendship in French) has grown into one of Australia’s leading fabric stores, offering a handpicked collection of patterns and fabrics of high quality and unique beauty.
Started in 2005 by quilting extraordinaire and then nurse and midwife, Jen Kingwell, Amitié was a way to express her love patchwork design and quickly became a full-time job after she could no longer carry out her midwife duties due to injury.
“I spent my life delivering babies and then I couldn’t do that after injuring my knee in basketball… the delivery suite was what I loved but I realised I couldn’t do it anymore.
“My hobby was patchwork and I bought into an existing business in 1999 and then sold that off and began Amitié in 2005.
“I made my first quilt when I was 17 and have always loved it… it was a case of be careful what you wish for… I turned my hobby into a business.”
Jen started Amitié to provide quilters with colourful and contemporary designs, something she noticed not many fabric stores were delivering at the time.
“Amitié is about bringing things together that were brighter, lighter and more modern.
“I’ve always loved that brighter genre more than the reproduction of older type of quilts.
“We bring our own unique touches and styles into each design and name each quilt something that has some meaning to us… some are the names of my kids, local surf breaks and some of my favourite music.
“Ultimately, we pride ourselves on our quality print – which is done in Japan and Korea, and the bright colours and designs which are done on site… we play with colour every day-all day and we love it.”
After setting up and establishing the business in Melbourne for its first 11 years, Jen and her husband Richard moved to Torquay in 2015 to enjoy a coastal lifestyle.
During their time in Torquay, the couple has watched Amitié become a hub of creativity with the retail and sewing space becoming a place of warmth, vibrance and community for people from all walks of life.
“The shop provides a great service and we absolutely love the community down here,” Jen said.
“Ladies come into the shops in big groups and stitch around the table… it’s all about that connection, friendship and camaraderie.
“There might be someone who might be having a tough time in the group and the other ladies just lift them up.”
Jen and the team also run classes and social events at the Torquay store for people wanting to sew or quilt with friends.
“Quilting and sewing is a hobby that really holds everyone together… and Amitié in the name stands for that.
“Not only are we a business, but we are also a community service in a way too.”
Jen continues to be a leader in the industry with her career taking her to countries including Japan, Morocco and Italy to teach others how to quilt, leading to her quilting and sewing expertise being recognised at the 2023 Australian Quilt Convention.
Jen was awarded the 2023 Rajah Award, which acknowledges an outstanding contribution to the quilting and patchwork industry in Australia.
The award name is in tribute to the historic Rajah quilt made by convict women en route to Australia in 1841, and the namesake award has a long list of illustrious winners that Jen said she was mindblown to join.
“That award was a huge surprise to me… it never crossed my mind to win something of that calibre… it was a true honour.
“There were certainly some heavy hitters of the industry in the room… it was pretty amazing to be firstly nominated, and then to actually win.
“No one wins an award like that in isolation and I’ve been encouraged and supported along the way by so many.”
On top of the retail side of the business, Jen and her team at Amitié have branched out into the development of products to go alongside the fabric range, including their widely successful Quilt Recipes book.
Released in 2021, Quilt Recipes combines 12 quilt and cushion projects from Jen with eight recipes passed down from her mother.
“The book just went absolutely gangbusters,” she said.
“We were shocked…it went number one on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in the United States.
“It showcases quilts in a brand-new light and pairs it with stunning interior and yummy recipes.
“It was totally produced here in Geelong and it’s something I’m truly proud of… the fact we did it locally was really amazing.”
Amitié textiles shop is located at 87 Beach Road, Torquay. For more information and to shop fabrics online, head to www.amitie.com.au/