QUESTIONS & ANSWERS www.images-magazine.com 72 images OCTOBER 2026 You know the name, now get to know the person. Natasha SearlsPunter of ETC Supplies discusses always having a sewing kit on hand, her mum’s wedding veil, and how much Greg Davies makes her laugh UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL How and when did you start your career in the industry? I started working in embroidery in 2013 when I graduated, initially interning for some fashion houses before I secured a role at a bespoke embroidery company in central London called Hawthorne & Heaney where I worked for 12 years, heading up their machine embroidery department. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you at work? When working with smaller customers or start-ups, it is often the place I feel I can have the most impact. So, when they come back to me and say how much easier a job was when they used a certain product they didn’t know existed or a trick I have shown them, then that is the best. Which three words would your friends use to describe your personality? Dependable, optimistic, pragmatic. What’s your most used word or phrase? ‘Absolutely’. Salt and vinegar or cheese and onion? Salt and vinegar, all the way. What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to? Greg Davies – Full Fat Legend. I’ve seen Greg Davies a few times now but this one had me crippled with laughter. What’s your hidden talent? I’m a pretty good swimmer, and much prefer open water to pools. What’s your most prized possession? My mum’s wedding veil: my aunt wore it, then my mum, then me and I added some embroidered flowers to it too so it really is one of a kind. What’s your favourite takeaway? Thai – I always enjoy a pad see ew and the nibbles, I can never get enough of the satay sticks and spring rolls. Is there another job that you’ve always wanted to do? I am continually fascinated by the body and thought about doing medicine – I could have channelled my dexterity into being a surgeon instead of an embroiderer. Where is the best place you’ve ever visited? Palau Sibu – it’s a little island off Malaysia, surrounded by coral reefs so you can just snorkel out and see what you can find that day. You have to get a small boat from the mainland out to it and there s only really eco huts out there but the views are worth giving up access to hot water for a week. Which gadget couldn’t you live without? My sewing kit, I always have one on me because you just never know... If you could ask one person (living or dead) one question, what question would you ask? To the Queen (RIP), where is your favourite place to have visited in the UK? Natasha Searls-Punter Natasha added some embroidered flowers to her mum’s wedding veil, her most prized possession Palau Sibu is the best place Natasha has ever visited ? to it and there’s only really eco huts out Natasha would like to ask Queen Elizabeth II where is her favourite place she visited in the UK Thai food such as pad see ew is Natasha’s go-to for takeaway meals
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