Clavis & Claustra
Emma McBeath, Heritage Manager at The Pankhurst Centre, interviewed Cat Crossley from the iconic stationery brand Clavis & Claustra. We’re happy stockists of Clavis & Claustra at The Pankhurst Centre.
Tell us a bit about yourself and Clavis & Claustra.
I'm a pun-loving feminist with a stationery habit and a herstory obsession. I set up Clavis & Claustra back in 2015, with a hunch that maybe other people also craved truly feminist gifts inspired by women's history. Turns out they do! I design and produce multi-award-winning cards, stationery, clothes and gifts for rebels and troublemakers. I am inspired by 'sheroes' throughout history including witches, writers, daredevils, artists, warriors, and of course suffragettes.
You design a lot of suffragette themed gifts - What is it about the suffragettes you like so much?
The more I learn about the suffragettes, the more I am amazed and inspired by them. From the likes of escape artist Lilian Lenton to hot air balloon stuntwoman Muriel Matters, this group of intrepid women were incredibly brave and inventive in their pursuit of equal suffrage. Not only that, they were persistent and maybe that's the most impressive thing - to have relentlessly continued the struggle in the face of a stream of obstacles and setbacks. The movement has a complex history but a hundred years on they retain a powerful ideological and visual identity and a lot of that is down to the iconic powerhouse of strategy, the Pankhurst family.
What’s your favourite thing you’ve designed?
I am especially fond of 'A is for Arson: A Suffragette Alphabet of Rebellion & Resistance' because this tells the story of suffragette militancy in a really fun, accessible and colourful way. There are so many excellent stories and interesting aspects of the movement that it was a struggle to pick only one for each letter! My favourite letter is probably R for Resisting Arrest, which features Rosa May Billinghurst pursuing a police officer from her motorised wheelchair, brandishing her crutch.
What do you enjoy most about your job/career/business?
The privilege of visiting and exploring wonderful museums, castles, and heritage properties like the Pankhurst Centre, and being inspired by artefacts, stories and spaces, is completely magical - and I get to do this regularly as part of my business. This enables me to design feminist creations for people to use proudly or wear brazenly, and I love that some of my customers have told me that Clavis & Claustra products make them feel emboldened. Essentially, I thrive on inciting rebellion!