Laurie Wells

My project is inspired by the village of Kilbarchan in the West of Scotland and its deep-rooted history in hand weaving. Initial visual research involved exploring the Weaver’s Cottage in Kilbarchan and the Sma’ Shot Cottages in Paisley. The Weaver’s Cottage features a 200 year old loom, which is still used today. The dense weft strands and geometric shapes created by the structure of the looms served as a key source of visual information, which led me to create designs with bold shape and overlapping line. By reflecting the sense of repetition and rigidity found in woven textiles, I have created a collection that translates the rhythmic nature of weaving through screen-printing on linen with repeating motifs and repeating layered shapes.

Through this collection I aim to blend heritage with contemporary techniques, paying homage to the history of Scotland’s textiles, while creating something new and relevant to today’s textile industry. My designs tell a story of cultural evolution, and aims to remind viewers of the history of traditional Scottish textiles, including weaver’s lives in the industry, and their legacy of craftsmanship.