Published:
We're excited to announce the launch of a new collection of handwoven Raw Fleece Wall Hangings and Rugs.
The pieces in this new collection are based on an original 1970s rug design by Karen Hay-Edie, master weaver and daughter of our company founder Gerd Hay-Edie. At the time the design gained distinction when it was chosen for the Design Selection Awards in June 1984. Having delved into the company archives and rediscovered this popular and timeless design we're delighted to bring it back into production.
Combining hand-selected fleece from local rare-breed sheep and traditional handweaving techniques, each piece is individually hand-woven and celebrates the natural tones and textures found in each unique fleece. Varying thicknesses within the hand-twisted fleece combine with speckly berber yarns and linen to create great textural interest.
The undyed fleece used in this design is from several breeds of sheep native to the UK such as the Piebald Jacobs, Hebridean, Wendsleydale and Cheviot. The fibres are long and fine with good lustre.
Rare-breed sheep graze in the fields surrounding our workshop so we're never far away from our woolly friends who supply us with this amazing and sustainable material.
Gradations of tone throughout each undyed fleece give wonderful depth and variation of colour. The soft, natural shades combine with the simplicity of the lines and textures to create wonderfully tactile pieces.
A number of the weaving techniques used to make the hangings and rugs in this collection, such as hand-twisting the undyed fleece, have evolved from our iconicMilano Rug, a piece that was designed in the 1950s by Gerd Hay-Edie. In order to bring this second-generation design back into production we're training weaving apprentices in these unique and specialist techniques.
The Raw Fleece Wall Hangings and Rugs come in several undyed tonal groups - Blackened Peat (Dark Brown), Dry Stone (Cool Grey), Bog Cotton (Unbleached White) and Faded Bracken (Light warm brown/grey).
To celebrate this launch we've brought a Kentish Handloom to our stand at Decorex International so visitors can see the weaving process up close. Throughout the show our very own designer and master weaver Karen Hay-Edie will be weaving samples from this new collection.
Swatches of all our Furnishing Fabrics and Curtain Tweeds, including new colourways, will also be available to view on the stand.
DECOREX INTERNATIONAL, Syon Park, London, TW8 8JF
16 – 19 September 2018
Sunday 16 - 10am - 6pm
Monday 17 - 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 18 - 10am - 7pm (Consumer Day)
Wednesday 19 - 10am - 5pm
MOURNE TEXTILES is exhibiting on STAND H20
WEAVING DEMONSTRATIONS
Sunday 16, 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Monday 17 and Tuesday 18, 11am - 1pm, 2.30pm - 4pm
Wednesday 19, 10am - 12pm
Photography copyright Tara Fisher