Teixidors: A Socially Sound Cloth
The city of Terrassa holds a rich history of weaving and woollen cloth production. During the 19th and 20th centuries it was among the leading European textile hubs, both in terms of production volume and quality; it is said that there was once a loom in every household.
Situated near Barcelona in Catalonia, and overlooked by the Sant Llorenc del Munt mountain massif, Terrassa is where Teixidors has made its home for over 40 years. A producer of luxury handwoven cloth, soft furnishings and garments, Teixidors works with a deep respect for both people and the environment. It is much more than a textile brand; it is a project with a soul. The studio was founded to honour and revitalise traditional skills and a way of life that is slowly being lost, alongside an unparalleled desire to create employment for local learning disabled people.
Teixidors’ approach is to reclaim the more humane and subtle methods of textile production that actively improve people’s lives in every regard, from aesthetics to social interaction. The studio prides itself on “being open to and dialoguing with difference” and values each individual’s unique sensibility that is imbued into the cloth as they weave their own dance upon the loom. Since its founding in 1983, Teixidors has been a national and international benchmark for integrating learning disabled people into the workforce. The company was the first of its kind to implement this model of training and inclusion, and over the years has received several recognitions for it.
Its brand lead, Joan Martínez, describes the work with a great eloquence: “What we do is pure craftsmanship: no two pieces are exactly alike. This uniqueness is not just an aesthetic value but a manifestation of each artisan’s identity. Just as the same musical score can sound different in the hands of different musicians, at Teixidors, each artisan’s style is subtly reflected in the pieces they weave. With their expert hands, they transform natural fibres into exclusive products that tell a story of tradition and dedication.”
Some of the learning disabled weavers have been working at Teixidors for over 20 years and have become truly accomplished master weavers during this time. They work on 19 handcrafted Scots pine countermarch looms that Teixidors had made at the beginning of its journey. The act of weaving, the studio claims, requires so much concentration that, at times, it resembles a form of meditation.
“Each weaver has a specific role in the process, but many rotate between different tasks to enrich their experience and keep the work fresh,” says Martínez, believing that this helps to challenge their creativity. And those who don’t weave have roles in creating samples, stitching labels and getting orders ready for dispatch. The employees have not only learnt heritage craft skills that were at risk of disappearing but have also achieved a level of economic independence that many learning disabled people can only dream of.
Paid employment levels among learning disabled people in England, for example, remain chronically low. According to Mencap, it sits statically around the 5% mark, despite many wanting to work. Handweaving is a craft that can give learning disabled people a level of independence that they may not have in some other areas of their lives. Teixidors is a pioneer in enabling this demographic to craft exquisite cloth for the luxury market whilst facilitating real-world job creation.
Martínez says that for many at the studio, it has been a path to independence and self-fulfilment, greatly boosting their self-esteem and ability to overcome challenges. Some of the weavers have told him: “We take pride in knowing that what we create is valuable, beautiful, and appreciated.” The company has made weaving a means of social inclusion, providing learning disabled people a space to develop their skills, become experts in their field, and gain recognition. This upturns a common perception that this demographic receives from - rather than gives to - society. Here, they are giving something very special indeed.
The combination of such impeccable mastery of the loom and ultra-fine natural yarns results in beautiful, timeless textiles. The collections have caught the attention of some of the world’s most selective retailers and have invited collaborations with architects and designers including John Pawson, Faye Toogood and Helena Rohner – mostly evolving through a mutual admiration of each others’ work.
Respect for nature is also fundamental to Teixidors’ work. At its starting point over 40 years ago, it chose to create wooden looms due to a preference of “the delicacy, details and warmth of wood over the cold efficiency of metal.” A distinct awareness of the toll that humanity takes on the planet has driven a goal to achieve the highest quality textiles, with minimum impact. This awareness, coupled with the unfortunate decline of Europe’s wool industry in the 21st century, enhanced Teixidors’ commitment to sourcing fibres from as close to their base in Catalonia as possible in recent years.
Close and personal relationships are vital in their sourcing. Having procured sheep wool from a farm in the Extremadura area of western Spain for decades, the company has recently begun building an additional relationship with a farming family closer to home in Catalonia’s neighbouring region of Aragon. The farm manages a 400-strong flock of Merino sheep, a breed that used to thrive in Spain, adapting very well to arid conditions.
As Martínez elaborates: “For centuries, Spain was renowned for its Merino sheep and their exceptionally high-quality wool. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in preserving this breed and improving the quality of its fibre once again. We work closely with farmers committed to excellence, who focus on conserving Merino sheep herds while prioritising animal welfare and responsible environmental practices.”
For Teixidors, “craftsmanship and sustainability are not passing trends or mere labels, but a way of life based on responsible consumption and respect for the environment”. The studio provides inspiration and a deep hope for a future where all individuals have the opportunity for their potential to be uplifted – and to become environmental allies along the way.
Written by Jade Ogden.
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Image Credits:
All Images courtesy of Teixidors.