How can textile design processes capture an essence of place, informed by the resourceful use of materials during the Great Depression and World War Two era?

This study looks to capture the essence of place at Blacks Avenue, and to celebrate the local area through a resourceful use of materials for textile design. This use of materials is inspired by the “make do and mend” approaches and skills of the Great Depression and World War Two; a time when nothing was wasted and people were forced to be resourceful and live off materials from the land. The concept of no waste and resourceful use of materials relates to designers today aiming to make more sustainable and environmentally conscious design. This research explores how this past era can provide knowledge that will inspire the production of sustainable textile design. 

The approach from this historical period inspired me to explore what materials from the land at Blacks Avenue and the local area could be used to create textiles. I visited local sheep farms to learn more about wool fibre and to source local wool for my designs. I collected matter for natural dye from Blacks Avenue waste materials such as vine leaves, grape stems and walnut husks to colour this local wool fleece and yarn. As well as having a strong link to place, wool was also particularly suitable for its environmental benefits, being a natural, renewable, sustainable fibre. I used felting and embroidery to recreate my watercolour paintings and drawings from Blacks Avenue, capturing motifs, landscapes and characters emblematic of the area. This resulted in a final collection of three cushions and four textile samples. All natural materials were used in these designs and all materials apart from cotton sewing thread were sourced from the local area.