Five Festival Favourites from Selvedge's Founder, Polly Leonard
Written: 21 March 2017
Elmina Fors. I am drawn to her use of pattern. I am always impressed when a designer can take their own cultural heritage and translate it into something original and relevant to today. Emerging designer Elmina’s knitted scarves are a good example of this.
Prilly Lewis is a designer who ingeniously combines knitting and felt-making to conceive both homeware and accessories that explore texture and pattern in interesting ways. Favourite pieces include her patched throws.
Manda McGrory of Treefall has been a favourite for many years - I particularly admire her ambitious sculptural swans.
For me it is Jane Withers’ dip dyed lamp shades that are memorable. I love the provenance of her materials, for example cheviot wool from Northumberland. With minimal intervention she creates pieces that celebrate the qualities of the materials and works well in a range of environments, both contemporary and historic.
Ruth Singer is a designer with an in-depth appreciation of the role textiles has played in our social history. She puts this knowledge to good effect in her work. I am particularly drawn to that which references quilt making.
Pollu Leonard
