Olivia Simpson
Textile Design BA Hons
Massey University College of Creative Arts
Specialisms: Textiles - Weave / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Textiles for Interiors
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Olivia Simpson
First Name: Olivia
Last Name: Simpson
Specialisms: Textiles - Weave / Sustainable Fashion/Textiles / Textiles for Interiors
Sectors:
My Location: Wellington, New Zealand
University / College: Massey University College of Creative Arts
Course / Program Title: Textile Design BA Hons
About
I am a textile designer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa. I design and create across several different mediums including weave, knit, surface pattern design and material innovation. I have a strong belief in good craftsmanship being fundamental to good design so as to produce beautiful and long lasting results. I am also passionate about sustainable, ethical and circular design processes with a focus on the role wool can play in these areas.
Strong wool stories
Strong wool possesses many attributes such as being renewable, biodegradable, breathable, odour and stain resistant, durable and fire retardant. However, it’s financially unviable for many farms to shear sheep for profit due to competition from synthetic fibres, leaving a surplus of strong wool sitting unused. This project focused on revitalising this industry through craftsmanship, promoting a holistic approach which considered the environment, materials, people and processes to bring textiles from farm to fabric. I collaborated with a local farmer and worked with the fleeces from shearing day. Sorting and scouring the fleeces before carding, spinning and plying them into yarn. I coloured the yarn with natural dyes before setting up looms to weave the rugs, with the designs based on farming landscapes. Finally, the woven textiles were run through a felting loom to create a dense, tight cloth. The collection showcases strong wool while taking advantage of its many properties to create beautiful and functional rugs.
Competitions
