How it all began
When Emily graduated in 2010 with a First in Woven Textiles, she undertook a three-month internship with renowned woven textile designer Margo Selby. As well as working in the studio on various creative projects, she also had her first taste of teaching, which she loved.
Despite the possibility of joining the company, Emily decided to take a leap of faith and go it alone.
Emily began to formulate a plan that would capitalise on her passions for weaving and teaching. She decided to launch her business – Weaversmith – but wanted to supplement her creative talent with a healthy dose of business skills and know-how. So, in October 2013, she joined The Studio, the graduate enterprise scheme at Loughborough University.
In 2013, Emily won the Entrer Prix Award and an UnLtd HE Social Entrepreneurship Award to help finance the development of Weaversmith.
Where we are now
We now combine our love of creating bespoke hand-woven fabrics with hand-weaving workshops, commissions, 1-1 weave tutoring and selling weaving equipment.
We offer a stand-alone design and sampling service for woven fabrics, which can then be hand-woven and ‘hand-finished’ or ‘unfinished’, in small quantities.
Dr Janette Matthews, Lecturer in Textiles, School of the Arts, English and Drama, Loughborough University, says,
“I am currently conducting textile design research into processes to create three-dimensional textile surfaces. Emily (Weaversmith) was commissioned to weave several warps as part of this project. Her weaving is of a high quality and work was delivered on time and to specification. Her knowledge of fabric construction and structure is of benefit to the project.”
Her cutting-edge designs have caught the eye of major textile design companies such as Desigual and Harlequin, and have earned a number of prestigious awards including accolades from the Worshipful Company of Weavers and the Society of Dyers and Colourists.
Emily is also employed by the Workers’ Educational Association which allows her to run workshops at the Fairfield’s Skills Centre in Queniborough, Leicestershire, which helps “adults with learning difficulties move into the world of work”.
Accomplishments
- Weaversmith Workshops (2014 – Present)
- WEA Disability Workshops (2014 – Present)
- Loughborough University’s Enterprise Awards Nominee (2015)
- £200 First Prize Molly Makes Handmade Award (2014)
- The Studio (2013-2015)
- Exhibited at The Mall Galleries, London, with the Society of Designer Craftsmen (2013)
- £5500 UnLtd HE Social Entrepreneurship Try It or Do It Award (2013)
- £2500 Entrer Prix Award (2013)
- Internship with Margo Selby (2012)
- Collection of drawings sold to Harlequin for children’s wallpaper (2012)
- First Class BA (Hons) Woven Textile Design at Loughborough University (2010)
- £1000 Worshipful Company of Weavers Scholarship (2010)
- £200 Second Prize SDC International Design Competition – Midlands (2009)
- Woven fabric design sold to Desigual (2009)
workshops since founding
people worked with
commissions