I am a textile designer specialising in woven textiles, with a focus on expressing concepts and narratives through visual storytelling. My work explores how colour, materials and processes interact in unexpected ways to challenge traditional perceptions of woven cloth.
‘Diasporic Threads’
Inspired by my grandparent’s story of migrating from Jamaica to Britain and the historical narratives of movement within the wider Caribbean community, ‘Diasporic threads’ encapsulates the dualities and complexities of migration, and the role it plays in the erasure of cultural heritage within the Afro/ Caribbean diaspora. Underpinned by this, I present a collection of woven textile art pieces that explores the need to reconnect to ones roots and origins, using visual storytelling to initiate conversation and raise awareness of its cultural impact.
Primary photography of my grandma and aunt in clothing from the Caribbean.
Project mood board – Colour, Concept and Inspiration.
Primary photography of fabric displaying the symbolic green, yellow/gold and red colours, which hold deep cultural significance within the Caribbean, found in Brixton.
Primary photography of my grandparents in England in the 1960s.
Final design, inspired by the symbolic colours green, yellow/gold and red, which hold cultural significance within Caribbean culture, particularly in relation to Jamaican culture and history. Woven on a sublimation printed warp, with cotton and wool yarns.Final design, inspired by the traditional banana leaf motif, which is significant symbol within the history, culture and heritage of the Caribbean. It is a symbol of abundance and cultural identity. Woven on a sublimation printed warp, with cotton, wool and bark cloth yarns.
Visual Storytelling:
The Erasure of Cultural Heritage
To represent the story of transition to urban Britain and how this has played a part in dulling down and erasing the authenticity of Caribbean cultural heritage over time, I explored the concept of urbanism, focusing on urban surfaces, colour and patterns that embody industrial, grey Britain. I have then translated these using traditional heritage resist techniques such as batik wax, overdyeing and bleaching as processes to emphasise this gradual change.
Hand-woven sample exploring batik wax resist and overdyeing, using grey direct dyes to convey the idea of cultural heritage being dulling down.
Jacquard sample exploring bleaching to express the idea of cultural heritage being stripped away and erased over time.
Hand-woven sample exploring batik wax resist and overdyeing, using grey direct dyes to convey the idea of cultural heritage being dulling down.
Jacquard sample exploring bleaching to express the idea of cultural heritage being stripped away and erased over time.
Jacquard and Handwoven Samples
All handwoven samples have been woven on a sublimation printed warp, using a 24 shaft armloom touch.
Close-up of a final design, featuring pleats influenced by the cultural colours green, yellow/gold and red in a sequence. Cotton and wool yarn is used through the weft.
Close-up of a final jacquard design inspired by mangoes, woven as a double cloth with a tile drop. Cotton and wool yarns are used in the weft.
All jacquard samples are woven using a 1152 hooked industrial jacquard, using cotton and wool as weft yarns. Design ideas are developed from my drawings and personal photography.
Work Experience
Pierre Frey, Showroom Intern: July 2023 – November 2023
Majeda Clarke, Studio and Design Intern: November 2023 – January 2024
Designers Guild, Design Intern: February 2024 – March 2024
