Winter Fair: ReFold
On the 7th of December, our team brings a curated collection of 55 merchants and makers to Mary Ward House in central London. Our exhibitors sell a range of rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery and skilfully handmade textile treasures. The fair offers the perfect opportunity to meet makers, catch up with old friends, and pick up that special something in preparation for the festive season.
In the lead up to our annual Winter Fair Selvedge is profiling some of the companies that will be joining us. Here we look at the work of Alexandra Hagen and Refold.
“ReFold has the dual purpose of creating handmade textiles for everyday use whilst promoting an awareness of environmental sustainability. I dye organic fabrics with indigo and other natural dyes and create pattern using resist techniques such as shibori (stitch resist) and katazome (paste resist). The patterned cloth is then sewn into simple bags, wrapping cloths (furoshiki) and some wearable textiles.”
“I am particularly interested in geometric patterns, and the relationship between the two dimensional and the three dimensional and how a design is altered when the cloth is folded or wrapped. I work with abstract patterns, the rhythm of lines and grids, the repetition of elements which are similar, but never the same. The concept of Ma (Japanese for interval or empty space) informs my work in many ways. It is the relationship between pattern and empty space, the transition from dark to light that interests me.”
“My motto is SLOW SUSTAINABLE HANDMADE - many of the processes I use are time consuming and require great care and I see pieces through from conception to completion. Wherever possible I use organic and/or GOTS certified fabrics, my favourites being linen, hemp, ramie and a hemp-cotton mix. I also work with vintage and antique fabrics. I hope that the slow and thoughtful production of my textiles will inspire people to keep and cherish them for a long time.”
To visit ReFold and more than 50 other makers, get tickets to the Winter Fair here.
