Natural flooring brand Crucial Trading hosts Talking Textiles, an eye-opening exhibition by six Green Grads, at their showroom in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour for four days at the end of February. Green Grads is a ‘platform’ for new UK graduates “with ideas to heal the planet.” For this revealing show, six graduates have been carefully chosen for their common commitment to sustainable design and production, spotlighting natural fibres, dyes and biomaterials, with ways to cut waste, water and energy, plus other innovative eco-friendly techniques. Find projects by assured new professionals at the very cutting edge of textiles today.
Green Grads, the successful brainchild of renowned journalist and photographer Barbara Chandler, is now in its fourth year, supporting graduates whose final projects have in some way addressed a wide range of eco-issues. Graduates taking part in Talking Textiles at Crucial Trading will not only showcase their work, but will also be on hand for explanation, discussion, demonstration and project development throughout the week of 25th to 28th February, with special interviews by appointment.
“Each of our Green Grads – and we now have 200 listed on our website – has their unique suggested way of dealing with the environmental challenges the world faces today,” says founder/curator Barbara Chandler. “Textiles are a recurrent theme, and we are thrilled that six of our most talented new graduates will display and explain in person their ground-breaking ideas, in the intimate atmosphere of Crucial Trading’s beautiful showroom. A visit is essential for all seeking insights for the future, from industry professionals, to the media and members of the public and of course current students.” She adds that the Green Grads taking part share a love of natural materials with the Crucial Trading brand – “which makes our partnership particularly opportune.”
So, meet the Green Grads…
Scarlett Farrer’s Field to Fabric collection is hand-woven sustainably and ethically from hand spun 100% natural fibres. Scarlett explains: “I’ve worked closely with local farmers, collecting their unwanted sheep fleeces and hand spinning them myself into yarn. Inspiration has come directly from the British countryside and landscapes.” Her process is completely circular so fabrics can be composted at end of life, providing nutrients for the earth. She adds: “I’ve had a passion for working with animals since I was a child. Using sheep and alpaca fleeces keeps me in touch with farming. I know exactly where my materials come from and who is making them. And I’ve changed my lifestyle/practice to be more sustainable.” Scarlett’s yarn-spinning demonstrations will provide a fascinating glimpse into her sustainable and meticulous process.
Joanne O’Rourke creates patterns for commercially-available textiles that celebrate nature, underpinned by a profound commitment to eco-conscious practices. Her most recent work embodies innovative techniques such as waterless dyeing, digital printing, and the use of algae-based dyes such as spirulina and chlorella, as well as traditional Japanese indigo. She uses deadstock fabrics and is also experimenting with bioplastics made from cornstarch and agar. Joanne will discuss the practicalities of closed-loop production that minimises environmental impact, including waste, water and energy – a chance to learn more about sustainable textile techniques for today’s world.
Yahvi Duggal is also experimenting in the new field of biomaterials, billed as potentially biodegradable non-polluting replacements for current ‘forever’ oil-based plastics. She is transforming unlikely materials, such as eggshells and banana peels (initially sourced from her college kitchen and café), into stunning bio-fibres, which she weaves into beautiful wall hangings. She says: I am challenging perceptions of waste to highlight its potential as a valuable resource.” Yahvi is also an expert in the use of dyes, with extensive experience in her home country of India, and has developed her own vibrant colour palette. She will explain differences between the use of natural and synthetic dyes, explaining the pros and cons of each (in many cases, not widely understood.)
Sofia Barbé has a deep love of natural materials, freely experimenting with coconut coir, wool, milk-based paint, natural glues, and other fibres such as flax and raffia, and even “growing” textiles on mycelium. The richly mixed results, expressed mainly in eye-catching wall hangings, are quirky, expressive, and highly personal, reflecting an emotional connection to nature, shaped by her upbringing in Uruguay and cherished childhood memories of books, family and friends.
Jaime Cura is a true waste warrior. She presents eye-watering statistics on industrial waste - and showcases her own powerful anti-waste artistic statements: beautiful jackets made from multiple scraps of waste fabrics and plastic. For this exhibition “I will tell my story of working with pre and post-consumer textile waste. I will highlight its versatility and potential beauty. Each item is a call to action: let’s rethink the way we view discarded fabrics. She has exclusively collaborated with Jules Haines, industry leader in waste textile rescue, to craft unique pieces from fabric remnants, some of which can be commissioned. “I aim to provoke thought, evoke concern and inspire action,” says Jaime. “My work challenges our throwaway culture and celebrates the beauty of reuse and enduring value.” This inspiring display illuminates sustainability in design and the creative - sophisticated even - possibilities of upcycling.
Natural dye expert, Jess Kirkpatrick is constantly gathering plant materials, mainly in her home county of Lancashire, in an ongoing project called Growing Home. “It is incredible what you find once you look. The annoying weeds down your garden path or the dried-out bush you meant to prune for winter – all can create the most beautiful colours.” Through multiple experiments and tests, she reveals the huge potential of natural dyes, in a vivid and diverse colour palette, documenting findings in sketchbooks, recipe books, and graphs. Traditional crafts are a “vital companion” – hand-carved wood blocks, hand-screen prints, flower pressing: “all are less-harmful ways of image-making.” Using second-hand fabrics – in particular discarded bed linen from a local luxury hotel – shrinks landfill. Jess is totally committed to the planet’s health, pursuing sustainable practices wherever possible. And, as Jess says, “Why do we continue to harm the environment? Is there no other way? Can textiles be the leading force for change?”
Crucial Trading has been designing and making innovative floor coverings since 1986. Founded by an entrepreneurial couple who saw a gap in the market, the brand today remains true to its original core values – to continuously explore new weave, textures and patterns using 100% natural materials.
Supporting Green Grads and providing a platform for some of the graduates to showcase their projects was an easy decision for Marketing Manager Eve Fitzhenry who says “It’s incredible to see how these talented graduates are drawing on a negative to create so much positive change. Their innovative ideas are truly inspiring, and we’re thrilled to help communicate their work with a wider audience through our showroom”.
Comments