Guest Blog post by Vicki Cheadle  Weaving is Katherine Fraser’s passion. It all started with a woven textiles degree at Winchester School of Art and led naturally to a move into retail with Katherine opening her first shop in Shaftsbury in 2010. Three years later, Katherine moved to the creative and culturally rich city of Bath where she now has a shop on Walcot Street, as well as a thriving online business. Known locally as the artisan quarter, this particular street has a slightly boho feel with a myriad of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s the perfect location for a designer. From its inception, Katherine Fraser  always had one aim. “Our mission is to take artisanal weaving into the mainstream by creating accessibly priced, imaginatively conceived and aesthetically pleasing pieces that are not only true to the trends but will stand the test of time.” With a strong and loyal customer base in the UK and internationally, Katherine attributes her success to the bespoke nature of her products and staying true to her roots. All of her scarves, throws and cushions can be made to suit her customers’ colour preferences and to complement the interiors of their homes, at no extra cost. Katherine says “This is hugely important to my clients as they’re looking for a unique piece for themselves or as a gift and we collaborate to create something truly special. The weaving process is always the same so the price doesn’t differ, we just have to allow a six week period for items to be created.”

All of Katherine’s pieces are made from yarns that are sourced from the best mills in the UK and only the most natural fibres are used such as fine silks, super soft cashmere and merino lambswool. This is another selling point. Katherine says “My clients frequently comment on the ‘British made’ aspect of my work. They want to know the story behind the pieces they buy: have the yarns been ethically sourced and are they organic? What are the benefits of particular fabrics? Each piece has a story to tell.” More traditional artisan trades have made a revival in recent years and weaving is no exception. Katherine has seen a huge amount of interest in her weekly weaving workshops which take place in the basement of her shop. For Katherine's online store and workshop information, visit her website. www.katherinefraser.co.uk Images credited to Jesper Mattias.