You might remember that last year I decided to learn something new and started an online weaving course. I haven’t really shared much of the journey so far, as I wanted to do something creative just for me with no pressure or expectations, but searching for ideas and inspiration has led me to discover all sorts of wonderful textile artists, makers and designers. London-based Charlotte Wakefield of Woven Form is one such find, and I fell in love with her work as soon as I came across it.
Hand-woven using sustainably sourced fibres and bearing names such as ‘Turret’, ‘Column’ and ‘Frieze’, Charlotte’s art pieces mix architectural lines and patterns with beautiful colours and textures. In fact I’d treated myself to one of her creations within minutes of landing on her website, and I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed for my ongoing series of profiles. Our chat covered all sorts, from where her love of weaving stems from to how her approach has changed during lockdown. We also talked about the importance of rediscovering the joy in what you do, which I know from experience is something that’s all too easy to lose sight of when faced with the day-to-day pressures of running your own business.
So without further ado, over to Charlotte herself for more…
Hi Charlotte! Please can you start by telling us a bit about yourself?
“Of course! I grew up in a lovely small town, Marlow in Buckinghamshire, then moved to Brighton for university and on to London after graduating. Each place has been really instrumental in shaping who I am now. My partner and I are hoping to move back to Brighton at some point, as I really miss living by the sea. Being by the water gives me a great sense of peace.”
Have you always been creative?
“Yes, hugely. My mum is a very talented painter (although not as her job), so she always inspired me. We went on painting holidays, trips to National Trust gardens to draw, and visits to London to see any exhibition we could get tickets for. She has always nurtured this side of me, and allowed me to be incredibly free and to create things I love.”
Where does your love of weaving stem from?
“I fell in love with it when studying textile design at university. Straight away I was intrigued by the physical practice and the endless possibilities for experimentation through fibre, structure and colour. I love the freedom of weaving – of just sitting down at my loom and seeing what happens.”
How would you describe your work?
“I consider my pieces to be expressions of texture and colour. I’m obsessed with texture. I love to combine different yarns together – smooth Merino wool, fluffy mohair, loop mohairs, thick alpaca, paper cotton… They all work together and give a gorgeous range of textures.”
Where do you find inspiration?
“I think everything can be an inspiration but for me architecture is the gift that keeps on giving. One building alone can be the source of so much inspiration and spark off ideas for an entire collection. I love the combinations of colours, textures and patterns used to make the built world so stunning and exciting. London is such a great place to take in architecture, as every road is different to the previous one. We have a really unique mix of architecture from different periods and I love to go for a walk with my camera and see what I come across.”
Do you go through any particular rituals or processes when you weave? Do you need to be in a certain mood, for instance?
“Weaving in itself is a whole series of processes, from winding the warp, putting it on the loom and threading the heddles right through to actually weaving. These all need to be done in a certain way, otherwise you’ll have a nightmare further down the line. I really like the contrast between the set nature of these processes and the free style of the pieces I create. Weaving is a really relaxing experience for me so it always lifts my mood, and I use it as a kind of therapy!”
Do you have any personal favourites from your creations to date?
“Currently I’m obsessed with a gorgeous sage-green loop mohair yarn that I’ve been using, so I adore every piece it’s in! The tone of colour is quite unusual and complements so many other colours, so it’s a dream to work with. It’s great to mix the texture of the loop mohair with the really soft Merino wools which I usually favour as my warps, as they give a really lovely delicate finish to the pieces. I always enjoy working on commissions, too – I love bringing people’s ideas to life and creating a one-of-a-kind piece for them.”
Taking an ethical approach is clearly very important to you. Please can you tell us more about this and how you source sustainable materials?
“I want Woven Form to be a considered, ethical brand, with a positive impact on the world. Each piece is handwoven to size so there’s very little waste, and I work with a range of textile mills to use up their deadstock – the luscious yarn leftover from production, which would normally be wasted.”
Has your work changed over the course of this last strange year?
“Yes it has actually changed massively. At the start of 2020 I had a lot of time – as everyone did – and I spent it reflecting on my business, what I wanted out of it and how I wanted it to grow. I also took three months just to weave, with no end goal other than to fall back in love with it and see what I came up with. I’d started to feel a little stale in the business as it stood beforehand, and thankfully that experience was really amazing for me. I felt so much joy in weaving again and there was a lot of freedom in being able to weave in this way. I really hope this comes across in the work I’ve been producing.”
What’s next for Woven Form?
“I’m working on new pieces and doing little launches every month or so. I’m also working on lots of commissions and I’ll be taking part in a few events this year, including the Endless Love Creative Spring Market in May and Design London in September.”
Finally, do you have any words of advice for others who want to launch their own creative business?
“Remember to keep enjoyment in your work – it’s so important for you and it shows so clearly to your customers. Also, there’s so much information and help on the internet now. Running your own business can be really overwhelming but there will always be someone else going through the same things as you, so have a look and connect with people.”
Thanks Charlotte!
See more of Charlotte’s beautiful work on the Woven Form website and Instagram feed.
Photography by Lucy Cooper of My Kind Lifestyle for Woven Form
Such an interesting read. I’m always curious about what inspires artists and how they find direction. I’m now thinking of where I can envisage a piece in our new home.
Thank you! And me too – always so fascinating. I love what Charlotte says about keeping the joy in what you do, too.