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Lauren Eve Anderson

Textile Design (BA Hons)

Specialising in woven design, focusing on responsible design methods, 3D woven forms and themes of environmental urgency.

Sample of large pleats, woven with seacell and linen in the warp, and chunky wool and cotton used as weft. Yarn becomes more

‘Retreating Coasts’

Inspired by my hometown of Bridlington, this project aims to highlight and raise awareness of coastal erosion and sea-level rise in the UK. Erosion seen on the East Coast is the main focus, and my own memory of the nearby cliffs and their worryingly rapid erosion is the strong driving force for this project. My final collection is intended to be a series of hanging art pieces, intended for a gallery setting.

My samples mostly take inspiration from the rustic colours and worn-down textures of nearby cliffs and the beach’s sea walls, as well as the shape and form of these structures. Gradation of size and colour are frequent features in my final collection samples, to show this loss of land. Both colour and materials are obtained from natural sources, all of which have been sourced and/or produced in the UK. Their usage both highlights the need for more regenerative textile practices and the beautiful qualities of these natural colours and fibres, including seaweed and its regenerative use as both a dye and yarn.

Personal photo of Sewerby Cliffs from the beach.
Personal photography of Sewerby cliffs, which are experiencing frequent landslips.
Personal photo of curved sea wall along Bridlington's South beach.
Personal photography of the curved sea wall on Bridlington’s south beach.

Handwoven Samples

A photo of me weaving at a dobby loom.
All handwoven samples have been woven on a George Wood 16 shaft dobby loom.
A close up image of a woven sample, composed of varying tones of 100% undyed British wool which have been used in both warp and weft. There is a zig zag pattern of brown wool against a warp of blending tones of brown and grey,
For some samples, like within this double cloth warp, the varying tones of 100% undyed British wool have been used in both warp and weft.
Large pleats, which create 3 large curved bumps, are woven with seacell and linen in the warp, and chunky wool and cotton used as weft, which hangs from one side. Yarn becomes more unruly in each pleat to show gradual disintegration.
Sample of large pleats, woven with Seacell and linen in the warp, and chunky wool and cotton used as weft. Yarn becomes more unruly in each pleat to show gradual disintegration.
Sample of pleats, going from small to large in size to highlight the gradual loss of land mass. Woven with linen yarn as the weft and Seacell and linen as the warp.
Sample of pleats, going from small to large in size to highlight the gradual loss of land mass. Woven with linen yarn as the weft and Seacell and linen yarn as the warp.

Natural Dye Extracts

All added colour present in my samples, excluding the natural tones of undyed British wool, are sourced by extracting colour from natural sources, which I have extracted myself. Substances extracted from include: seaweed (collected by myself from Bridlington’s beaches), beetroot, red cabbage and turmeric. I have used these to paint weft and warp yarns, to provide interesting colour and blending effects and to explore a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic dyes.

An image of natural dye extracts.
Natural dye extracts.
Image of seaweed I collected for colour extraction.
Image of seaweed I collected for colour extraction.
One of my warps on the loom, painted with natural dye extracts
This is the warp on the loom, painted with these extracts.
One of my final samples, inspired by geometric shapes of the sea walls and painted with dye extracts (blue to grey gradient). Woven with linen and chunky seaweed yarn.
A final sample, inspired by geometric shapes of the sea walls and painted with dye extracts. Woven with linen and chunky seaweed yarn.
A final sample, highlighting the beauty and fragility of the coast. Colour gradient from yellow, to green and to blue, with tightly woven linen and yarn floats.
A final sample painted with dye extracts, highlighting the beauty and vulnerability of the coast.
A photograph taken by myself, showing the closeness of the path to the cliff edge, which I remember being much further away as a child.
A photograph taken by myself, showing the closeness of the path to the cliff edge, which I remember being much further away as a child.

Examples of Drawing Inspired by Personal Photography

Some of my final samples are woven drawings of my imagery. So, to develop these, I have created abstract paper collages which pick apart the colours and geometric shapes in my photography of the sea walls.

An abstract collage drawing depicting the shapes of the curved sea wall.
An abstract collage drawing depicting the geometric shapes of the sea wall.

Final Jacquard Sample

Jacquard sample, designed with a composition of geometric shapes, developed from collage drawings.
My final jacquard sample, developed from my drawings and imagery above, woven with a brown wool weft.
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