Celebrating Jane Austen’s legacy with Whitchurch Silk ribbons
Hampshire’s gem of industrial heritage, Whitchurch Silk Mill, and the beloved Jane Austen’s House museum have joined forces to release a collection of fourteen Exclusive Edition Silk Ribbons. This creative collaboration celebrates Austen’s legacy, with each ribbon’s design and colour palette drawing inspiration from the House and its treasured artefacts, such as Austen's writing table, rare edition novels, and jewellery. The ribbons have been thoughtfully named after people and places dear to Austen, as well as famous characters from her novels, including Cassandra, Darcy, and Chawton.
Image: Whitchurch Silk Mill. Photo courtesy of Kirsty Bowen.
Throughout 2024, visitors to Whitchurch Silk Mill were treated to live demonstrations of the critically endangered art of silk ribbon weaving. During these events, they witnessed the intricate process of winding, warping, and weaving, all led by skilled Weaver Tacklers using historic machinery. Each ribbon, painstakingly crafted by these experts, is a beautiful heirloom piece that embodies the spirit of Jane Austen’s House.
This collaboration has also marked a significant moment in the preservation of silk weaving in the UK. Trainee Weaver Tackler Be received their first experience in ribbon weaving, training under the guidance of Whitchurch Silk Mill’s Heritage Weaving Manager, Shannon. With Be’s addition, the number of skilled silk ribbon weavers in the UK has increased from four to five, an important step in safeguarding this endangered craft for future generations.
Image: Whitchurch Silk Mill. Photo courtesy of Kirsty Bowen.
Jessica Bone, Whitchurch Silk Mill’s Commercial Director, expressed the team’s pride in the collaboration, saying, “Working with Jane Austen’s House on this exciting project has been an honour. We are so proud of the collection; the ribbons are stunning, capturing the unique inspiration of the House while showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of Whitchurch Silk Mill.”
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Throughout 2024, visitors to Whitchurch Silk Mill were treated to live demonstrations of the critically endangered art of silk ribbon weaving. During these events, they witnessed the intricate process of winding, warping, and weaving, all led by skilled Weaver Tacklers using historic machinery. Each ribbon, painstakingly crafted by these experts, is a beautiful heirloom piece that embodies the spirit of Jane Austen’s House.
This collaboration has also marked a significant moment in the preservation of silk weaving in the UK. Trainee Weaver Tackler Be received their first experience in ribbon weaving, training under the guidance of Whitchurch Silk Mill’s Heritage Weaving Manager, Shannon. With Be’s addition, the number of skilled silk ribbon weavers in the UK has increased from four to five, an important step in safeguarding this endangered craft for future generations.
Jessica Bone, Whitchurch Silk Mill’s Commercial Director, expressed the team’s pride in the collaboration, saying, “Working with Jane Austen’s House on this exciting project has been an honour. We are so proud of the collection; the ribbons are stunning, capturing the unique inspiration of the House while showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of Whitchurch Silk Mill.”
Want to read more of this article?
We are proud to be a subscriber-funded publication with members in 185 countries. We know our readership is passionate about textiles, so we invite you to help us preserve and promote the stories, memories, and histories that fabric holds. Your support allows us to publish our magazine, and also ‘what's on’ information, and subscription interviews, reviews, and long-read articles in our online blog.
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? CLICK HERE TO ACCESS CONTENT
OR...to continue reading….
*Magazine subscribers automatically get free access to all our online content. We send the access code by email with the publication of each issue. You will also find it on the envelope containing your magazine. Please note the access code changes every issue.*