LH Woven Designs was founded upon the inadvertent discovery of woven textiles. Upon learning the craft, the ability to create cloth from the mechanical and mathematical instruction of yarn has enamoured me. Originally a designer-maker, I was inspired at the University of Huddersfield to experiment with woven textiles. Over time, experimentation with weave has since evolved into a passion. 

The heritage of the textile industry is integral to the process of weaving. Through study, I was organically led to explore how woven pieces of the past can be an influence and guide in the present. In every design I aim to combine the traditional method of making with an unapologetic use of vibrant colour and urban geometric design, to create cloth with a contemporary twist.

Wool has a luxurious yet unique characteristic. As a natural fibre, it is important to consider its lifecycle. A new age of fashion, known as eco-renaissance, recognises the origin of a fibre and its potential. Such a movement within the industry is focussed upon the notion that every product should be created as an heirloom, engulfed in the promise of memories. In turn, the maker and consumer alike experience greater fulfilment and a deeper connection with the cloth. Looking ahead to the future of the textile industry, I believe that it is the duty and privilege of LH Woven Designs to portray wool as an innovative and sustainable fibre. 

All wool used by LH Woven Designs is obtained naturally from the environment and then has the capability to biodegrade, returning again to nature. As such, the rugged and untouched landscape of my world has inspired every creation. Memories of a childhood dwarfed by the towering fells of the Lake District are juxtaposed with the vast horizon of the setting sun from summer days in Scotland. The role that these memories play within the design of each piece enables a cloth to be created that is an extension of these landscapes. In turn, I hope to create an everlasting connection between our world and that which is manmade. 

LYDIA HURLEY

FOUNDER OF LH WOVEN DESIGNS