BACKGROUND STORY
Maggi Loughran is a leading and well-known tutor in the soft furnishings industry with an enviable reputation. Her work is always in demand!
Working on her own sewing projects as a child with her mother, Maggi Loughran (PGCTLHE, FHEA, LCGI) then trained at the highly renowned London College of Furniture and now has over 30 years' experience in both practicing and teaching Soft Furnishings.
After qualifying through the City & Guilds pathway, Maggi was offered a position as the Technical Textile Manager. She was the senior technician and part time tutor for 21 years, adding teaching qualifications to her credentials, achieving post graduate level (PGCTLHE). Maggi has since been awarded the Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (FHEA), a professional institution promoting excellence in Higher Education.
Maggi’s past tutors and mentors have included Dorothy Gates, the first woman president of the AMUSF (the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers) who encouraged Maggi to establish her own business and also to teach. Besides working at London Metropolitan University, she taught professional and leisure courses in a number of Adult Education establishments in and around London.
Maggi has been awarded the prestigious Licentiate from City & Guilds in 1996 (LCGI) in acknowledgement for her work as a soft furnisher and tutor. Also in recognition for her teaching, since 2012 she is an elected Honorary Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Upholders.
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Here at the School of Soft Furnishing & Upholstery, we offer a wide variety of training courses in our own purpose built studio. Whether you want to pursue a hobby, further develop a particular skill or indeed fulfil your dream of setting up your own soft furnishing business we have a course to suit!
Our new Soft Furnishing Diploma has proved popular this year and is open for new candidates now
For the complete beginners tackling the sewing machine for the first time, creating cushion covers or lined curtains through to advanced projects including interlined hand headed curtains and loose cover cutting tackled by the professional soft furnishers.
Students will be taught, guided and made to feel at ease in a well-equipped, comfortable, spacious classroom. Bespoke courses are also available for those who wish to book private tuition. The School of Soft Furnishing will help you reach your goals in a friendly, vibrant and inspiring environment.
In addition to working in the domestic arena and a variety of soft furnishing projects, Maggi has undertaken prestigious commissions such as
Cinderella’s Coach for Euro Disney - now on display
Refurbishment of a London Bus into a childrens Library
Loose covers for Chatsworth House
Table linen for the Oxford Library
The popular TV programme, DIY SOS creating bespoke pieces for an adapted house
And worldwide, Maggi has made chair covers for furniture in New York and Antigua!
After leaving her full-time post at the London Metropolitan University in 2014, Maggi launched the School of Soft Furnishing & Upholstery, Potten End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire where she teaches a variety of soft furnishing skills. A fourth generation upholsterer - Matthew Gates teaches our upholstery courses. A broad range of classes are available and vary in duration from just one day to a fully accredited part time, one-year soft furnishing or upholstery course.