spotlight on sustainability in textile art
Sustainability is a word we hear everywhere these days, but for me it’s not a trend. It’s a way of working that feels true to who I am and how I want to create. Textile art is already such a tactile, intimate craft, and I believe the choices we make as artists ripple outward, into our homes, our communities, and even the planet.
The textile industry as a whole has a heavy footprint: from water-hungry fibers to chemical dyes and mass production waste. But the beauty of being an independent maker is that I get to choose differently. I can slow down, question my materials, and work in a way that feels aligned with my values.
Here are a few ways sustainability shapes my practice:
1. materials with a story
Whenever possible, I choose natural, recycled, or responsibly sourced fibers. Cotton, jute, wool, linen, each has its own character, and I love that their origins tie back to nature. Working with these materials feels like collaborating with the earth itself.
And when Prash builds my frames, he only uses certified sustainable wood from a local supplier. That collaboration has become a cornerstone of my practice, because the artwork and the frame are inseparable.
Both matter equally to the integrity of the piece.
2. zero-waste creativity
If you peek into my studio, you’ll see jars and baskets overflowing with cord scraps. They might look like leftovers, but to me they’re little treasures waiting for a second life.
Some become fringe. Some are rewoven into new tapestries.
Some of my favourite experiments were pieces created entirely from scraps, and they turned out to be some of the most textural works I’ve ever made.
It reminded me that sustainability isn’t a limitation; it’s a spark for creativity!
3. sharing the mindset
I’ll be honest: I’m not perfect. I still make choices I’m learning from. But what matters to me is intention. To keep questioning, keep improving, and keep sharing.
Through my blog, workshops, and social media, I try to open up about the sustainable side of my practice. Sometimes it’s as simple as showing how I repurpose offcuts, or talking about the value of slowing down and making things that last. I want people to see that sustainability isn’t about being flawless, it’s about caring enough to try.
At the end of the day, sustainability in textile art isn’t just about materials or methods. It’s about respect for the craft, for the environment, for the people who will live with these pieces. Every knot and weave holds that intention.
I believe beauty and responsibility can go hand in hand. And if each of us, in our own way, makes choices with care, then together we’re shaping a future where art doesn’t just decorate our walls. It also honours the world we live in.