The origins of the brand.
Becoming a weaver was never my intention when I began at the University of Huddersfield, nor did I realise that I was about to discover my love and passion for wool. Particularly wool from North Cumbria and the Scottish Borders. I have always been able to immerse myself in the beauty of the land that I call home and the gifts that it provides.
My latest collection, created for my final major project, was entitled Recollection. Inspired by the process of automatic drawing and influenced by the classical composer Ludovico Einaudi, I found that what naturally occurred was a deep emotional response to my childhood. This idea of childhood greatly influenced my colour palette. Choosing mainly primary colours, I wanted my collection to be a visual representation of the innocence and playfulness of a child’s mind. Despite what they may have experienced, these characteristics remain.
From the beginning I knew that this collection of work was going to be made from wool. Its unique characteristics — its rawness and personality — express the central elements of my own work and the vulnerability of my past, whilst at the same time guaranteeing the vividity of colour. This in itself was a gargantuan challenge to undertake, as I quickly learnt the difficulties of dyeing different types of wool to create energetic-looking coloured yarns. My exploration of different woollen yarn manufacturers led me to discover the range of lambswool yarns from Knoll Yarns and Z. Hinchliffe & Sons, whose ranges offered the strong primary colours I desired.
It was particularly important for me to use a natural fibre because of the serious issue of textile and plastic waste. I wanted the reassurance that if any of my scarves were one day thrown away, I — their maker — would have the peace of mind that these pieces would not lie in landfill for hundreds of years, but would biodegrade into the ground within the space of a year. In turn, the wool would provide nutrients back into the soil, helping to break the cycle of waste.
These handwoven pieces, made purely from lambswool, have been lovingly created to be sold as scarves. Although they are finished products in their own right, they are also samples. It is my intention to work with mills in Cumbria and the Scottish Borders to weave a range of my scarf designs into throw-sized pieces. One thing I truly believe is vital is the importance of memories when selling this collection to the public. Each part of my Recollection collection has been inspired by memories. It is my hope that these products, in the hands of new owners, will hold many more memories and will not be considered meaningless pieces of fabric to be thrown away after a few months. Instead, they will be worn by their owners, who will form a deep personal connection with the scarf.
