Arts Thread

This Knit and Print Textile Collection is inspired by the detrimental impact climate change has on Edinburgh’s architecture. The extreme weathering will continue over the decades. As this rise continues, it will cause decay, degradation and irreplaceable damage to Edinburgh’s renowned buildings. Addressing these issues from Climate Change is vital for Edinburgh’s communities, as conservation is at the heart of the city. Research was driven by experts in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh. The focus for this collection explores the extraordinary textures left behind on the building’s brickwork, highlighting the impact of the current climate disaster. Photographs are taken from locations in the New Town of Edinburgh with the worst deterioration specifically Gayfield Place and Montgomery Street, where they have used replacement checkerboard stonework. The colour and intricate patterns of the buildings drive this textile collection. This collection is not driven by seasonal trends but has a strong focus on the idea of ‘new luxury’, curating pieces which are timeless and sustainable. Controlling the use of colour is the forefront to this collection. Yarns are selected and dyed with inspiration from each building in Edinburgh. ‘Metamorph’ manipulates knitted and printed textiles together, creating pieces that are ‘made to last’, combining the decaying forms and textures to create beautiful and contemporary textile designs. Receiving a yarn sponsorship from Knoll Yarns, has allowed me to experiment with sustainable Lambswool and a mix of material qualities. The luxury Viscose collection has used dead stock Viscose from Italy.