New twist on heritage craft using seaweed extracts
The creative mind behind a project for a master’s degree at Central Saint Martin’s University of the Arts in London is aiming to garner investment to expand the use of local seaweed in textiles from her home county of Cornwall.
Jenna Handley created a wool jumper based on garments that were used by local fishing communities since the 16th century, this time using seaweed fibres to add detail and seaweed extract to dye the wool pink.
She enlisted knitters to create patches representing local villages – which traditionally helped to identify those lost at sea. The jumpers are designed with a symmetric neckline, so they could be worn both ways around, to increase their lifespan.
Ms Handley told Sportstextiles: “The project was all about using local resources. It was important to engage with my local community.”
She added heritage crafts are “a good model for a regenerative future” and that she would like to work with the local seaweed in the future, perhaps weaving the fibre into a material that could be used for accessories.
The project was on display at the Future Fabrics Expo in London.
