A HANDWOVEN CLOSET
Image: Marine loom: Brigitte Extraordinaire.
“I want to help restore your relationship with craft, the environment, and what you put on your body by connecting you to a handwoven wardrobe,” says Bridgette Extraordinaire, the sole artisan behind RAANU. Bridgette has been hand-weaving genderless outerwear over the last six years from superfine cotton yarn, salvaged from the waste stream of large manufacturing houses. The hallmark of her work is bold color, worked into a seamless gradient.
Image: Red hooded cloak: Marisa Pfenning
Through the years, Bridgette has looked for other US artisans who share her dream of filling closets with beautiful, versatile, handwoven garments but found surprisingly very few. So she endeavored to expand her line of wearables into a capsule collection. 2020 provided the perfect opportunity to shift her focus from sales to product development and in 2021, Bridgette tested her market through a successful crowdfunding campaign. And now, finally, on April 22, the first pieces of a small apparel collection are set to launch, all woven and sewn in her Oregon studio. Thoughtfully designed with a modern twist on flattering and timeless silhouettes, the collection features a luxurious textile that blends sustainable bamboo with upcycled cotton, giving it incredible softness, drape, and durability.
Image: Indigo loom: Brigette Extraordinaire
Every step of Bridgette’s weaving path has been unconventional. At age 35, she had never touched a loom, yet embarked on an apprenticeship with friend and mentor, Blossom Merz. In just two years, she developed the skills needed to step into ownership. In 2017 Bridgette took control and continued to produce the flagship design, The Cloak, while rebranding into RAANU and updating many areas of the business. Since then, her main objectives have been building an eCommerce infrastructure, streamlining production, and expanding the product line to reflect a more contemporary aesthetic. The new collection is the culmination of all these efforts.
Image: Indigo Tunic and Wood Coat: Chelsea Fine
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Find out more about RAANU Handwoven on Instagram @raanu.handwoven or on their website: www.raanuhandwoven.com