Margaret Howell & Mourne Textiles

Margaret Howell has announced the launch of three new products with Mourne Textiles and an accompanying exhibition. Margaret Howell has worked with the company since 2012 and has been an active champion in its revival.

The exhibition highlights the undiscovered work and life of Mourne Textiles founder, Gerd Hay-Edie. Margaret has explored Mourne Textiles’ extensive archive and curated an exhibition that illustrates Gerd’s talent and influence on Mid-Century Modern design. Gerd Hay-Edie is one of the forgotten pioneers of 20th century hand-woven textiles. Born in Norway in 1909, she worked in Britain during the early 1930s and later established her weaving workshop near the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland in 1949.

Gerd Hay-Edie used traditional weaving techniques on custom-made handlooms, passing down these techniques to her daughter Karen Hay-Edie, and later her grandson, Mario Sierra. Moving to London in 1932 from Norway, Gerd first worked for the Rural Industries Bureau as a weaver-designer making furnishing fabrics, clothing and traditional Welsh bedspreads, which were sold in the Gordon Russell showroom on Wigmore Street. She later

moved to Dartington, Devon, the experimental estate owned by Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst where she designed textiles and rugs. Here, Gerd was able to experiment with different weaving techniques and yarn combinations.

After marrying in 1938, Gerd travelled throughout Asia. In Shanghai she learnt to use a Chinese handloom and used locally spun cotton yarn to create curtain fabrics. The techniques she learnt here were later incorporated into other designs such as her rug for the 1951 Milan Triennale which today is sold exclusively in Margaret Howell shops. Settling in Northern Ireland in 1948, Gerd set up her own weaving workshop creating her first rugs and cushions in November 1949. Gerd began to receive commissions, including rugs for furniture designer Robin Day at the Festival of Britain and Milan Triennale in 1951. Other early clients included the Craft Centre of Great Britain, Heal & Son and Henry Rothchild’s Sloane Street shop, Primavera.

Evolutionary Weaver MARGARET HOWELL AND MOURNE TEXTILES COLLABORATION AND EXHIBITION