Meet The Team

VICTORIA HAMMOND is the Founder and Director of Master Soft Furnishers. She has over 25 years professional experience as a curtain making, soft furnishing and interior design specialist working on prestigious projects mainly in London and surrounding counties. She grew up inspired by and working with her mother who ran a successful curtain making and upholstery business. Following graduation with a Degree in Textiles and a Diploma in Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings, Victoria gained experience working for fabric and design companies before establishing her business in 2001. Her award-winning enterprise is internationally renowned for training over a thousand individuals – many of whom have gone on to build thriving businesses in the soft furnishings industry.

Passionate about her craft, Victoria combines skills passed down through generations in her family with extensive industry experience. She is dedicated to preserving traditional sewing techniques while inspiring and supporting students at her Academy to achieve their creative and professional aspirations.

Victoria’s advice for running your own business is to work hard, stay flexible and versatile, and be willing to take risks to grow professionally. She emphasises taking pride in your products and services while treating both suppliers and customers with respect – always as you would wish to be treated yourself. 

NATALIE WEAVERS is a renowned Interior Designer, who tutors at the Academy on the course ‘Introduction to Interior Design’. Victoria Hammond and Natalie have worked together on projects for many years; its a great personal and working relationship. Natalie is a very knowledgable, inspirational, enthusiastic tutor and believes in investing in her students interior design journey.
Natalie graduated with a degree in interior architecture in 1986 and set up her own company in 2001 after working for several practices in London, Melbourne Australia and Brunei, where she designed a hotel and sports complex for the Royal family. 

STEVE HARDING of BSH Contracts Blinds and Curtains, has over 30 years professional experience working as a professional fitter in the high end residential and commercial sector. His experience and knowledge is not only diverse, it is invaluable. He is highly respected in the industry and has a long standing business relationship with his customers and suppliers, including Silent Gliss who are internationally renowned for their excellent window treatment products and service. Steve commenced his career working for John Lewis and then went on to work for himself including setting up, running for nearly 20 years and then selling Ace Contracts, who are one of the leading suppliers on automated blinds and curtains in the UK.

JENNIFER JANE leads Marketing and Communications at Master Soft Furnishers, bringing a background that spans brand development, education and the creative industries. With a strong foundation in digital strategy from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, she brings a thoughtful, creative approach to shaping stories and building brands that truly connect with people.

Her passion for textiles and interiors began early and has continued to grow over the years. She has studied upholstery, furniture refinishing and lampshade making, and has been awarded the Master Soft Furnishers Diploma, following training with Victoria Hammond.

Jennifer also undertakes professional renovation projects, finding great joy in sourcing preloved furniture – often found at auctions or online – and refinishing each piece with care. She is passionate about thoughtful design and helping others discover the beauty and value of expertly made soft furnishings and upholstery, with a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. 

EMILY McCART assists in all areas of the business at Master Soft Furnishers. She brings over 20 years of fashion design experience to her work in interiors. A graduate in Accessory Design from Cordwainers, she designed womenswear for brands including Reiss in London and Rebecca Taylor in New York, collaborating with global design and production teams. Her career took her around the world, from research trips in the US, Italy and Paris to sourcing visits in India, Turkey and Hong Kong.

After two decades in fashion, Emily followed her longstanding passion for interiors, completing the Master Soft Furnishers Diploma under the expert guidance of Victoria Hammond. She is currently studying part-time for a Diploma in Upholstery at the British School of Upholstery.

With a keen eye for design and a love of craftsmanship, Emily often collects antiques, homewares and vintage pieces, interests that continue to influence her approach to soft furnishings and upholstery.