Jenny Blakey
I am a weave student passionate about creating sensory-focused textiles that combine thoughtful design with function, aiming to improve everyday experiences through calming textures, colours, and materials.
This project explores how woven textiles can reduce flight anxiety and sensory discomfort, transforming the modern aircraft cabin into a more calming, human-centred space. Drawing inspiration from early air travel—when flying was a luxurious, comfortable experience—this collection reintroduces elements of care and atmosphere often lost in today’s commercial aviation.
The collection addresses common stressors such as claustrophobia, motion sickness, and sensory overload through carefully considered design choices. Soft textures, earthy colours, and natural scents like lavender and lemon are used to create the illusion of space, promote relaxation, and reduce nausea.
Made from wool and durable automotive polyester, the hand-woven and Jacquard textiles are suited for high-traffic areas of the cabin, including seat covers, armrests, curtains, and carpets. This project brings warmth and emotional ease to passengers, particularly those flying for work or managing travel-related anxieties.
This project was developed through a combination of research into the psychological effects of air travel and material experimentation. Initial stages involved studying flight anxiety and how aircraft interiors can increase this anxiety for passengers. From there, I explored how woven textiles could address these through sampling, dye testing, and scent integration. I used a variety of techniques including double cloth and jacquard to explore structure, texture and pattern.
Using the double cloth loom set up to create different variations of headrests, filled with lavender and stuffing to create a comfortable and relaxing environment. Created by weaving the two cloths separately to make a pocket which is then stuffed and closed on loom.
This runway collection of gender-neutral suits explores the tension between femininity and feminism, drawing inspiration from the ornate Rococo art movement and the evolution of feminist thought. Once dismissed as superficial, Rococo’s beauty is reinterpreted here as a symbol of reclaimed power.
The collection reimagines the traditionally masculine suit as a unisex garment, decorated with ‘pretty’ yet meaningful details—echoing the visual language of Rococo while questioning societal definitions of gender and power.
Woven and knitted fabrics are created using natural silk, pleating, floats, and hand-dye techniques, alongside embellishments like beading and embroidery. Through this, the project challenges the historical dismissal of femininity.
