FLOCK
SHEAR WASTE
My outrage at how little British wool is worth has inspired my project ‘Flock’. Wool is an incredible natural resource that should be invaluable to the textiles industry for a sustainable future.
My family have farmed for over six generations. Last year the total from our 1000 ewes’ fleeces was just £135.46 approximately 14p per fleece. Due to diabolically low wool prices farmers have been forced to burn and let their wool rot.
The world is in a climate emergency, yet we are still producing tonnes of synthetic materials. There needs to be change and I hope that my project proves that it is possible to to create regional, sustainable and timeless pieces with British wool in it’s rawest and simplest form.
Heritage, regionality and sustainability underpin my design process. I strive to combine traditional methods with modern digital processes to create a collection of British wool samples for a womens seasonless collection. I have been inspired by 18th and 19th century farmers smocks, the embroidery designs had a deep connection to their community and region.
I have experimented with my own flock’s fleeces: washing, carding, felting, knitting and digitally embroidering on to them. I have used natural and sustainable materials such as my own flocks wool and lyocell thread.
Our Sheep At Mere Barn Farm
I have researched my family history as my great grandmother’s family farmed on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. I was inspired by the local traditional craft which uses wool in the islands of Fair Isle, Arran and Harris.
“Islandness”: long periods of isolation, living a more sustainable way of life in which skills and traditions were passed down generations and crafts played a central role to create community.
I wanted this concept to be a part of my design process. Translating smocking and imagery from the Isle of Bute landscape.
