DESIGN HIGHLIGHT | Woven Artwork - Woven by Hand, Shaped by Purpose
The woven artwork collection came into being as a creative response to a very real need. It was shaped by circumstance, guided by design and grounded in a long standing relationship with a group of women whose skills are exceptional, yet whose opportunities are limited.
Our collaboration with indigenous Maya weavers in Guatemala began entirely by chance. While waiting for a bus, our Guatemalan production manager noticed a woman weaving at the roadside. She was working with a traditional backstrap loom, creating a brocade textile of remarkable quality. The weaving was Kʼicheʼ in style, technically refined and deeply rooted in cultural tradition. That moment led to a conversation, and over time, to a relationship. What began with one weaver grew into a cooperative of twenty women, all living and working within the same close community. They weave from their homes, using skills passed down through generations, balancing family life with highly skilled textile production.
Then the pandemic disrupted everything.
With projects paused and demand reduced, there was a real risk that the weavers would be left without work. For us, maintaining production was essential. This was never about charity, but about sustaining meaningful employment through design, even in difficult circumstances. At its core, it was about looking after people, respecting their skills and ensuring that those who had built this work with us were supported and lifted up when it mattered most.
In response, we turned our attention to solving the challenges facing the weavers through design. We began developing a new format that played to their remarkable technical ability and could realistically find a place in the market during a period of uncertainty. We have always seen these brocades as artworks as much as functional textiles, so working at a smaller scale felt both natural and honest.
By designing small scale woven artworks, we were able to create pieces with a wider appeal and a more accessible entry point, without compromising the integrity of the craft. We invested in the development of these works before a clear market existed, allowing the weavers to continue earning while the collection took shape and found its audience.
The woven artwork collection grew directly from this moment. Each piece was conceived as a complete work in its own right, celebrating the depth, complexity and beauty of the weave, rather than adapting it to another function. Over time, the response came. Interior designers and collectors connected with the authenticity of the work, and the artworks began to appear on the walls of thoughtfully designed residential and hospitality projects.
From the outset our approach was design led. We create intricate, contemporary focused designs that respect the heritage of the weaving technique while exploring new forms of expression. The weavers then realise these designs through complex brocade weaving, bringing depth, precision and texture that can only be achieved by hand. Their technical ability is extraordinary, world class in its execution, yet often undervalued within a society where indigenous women face systemic barriers to opportunity
Today, the collection stands as a reminder that design can be a practical and powerful tool. When approached with care, it can create opportunity, sustain livelihoods and give visibility to skills that deserve recognition.
For us, this work is about more than objects. It is about long term relationships, shared respect and using design thoughtfully to support people whose talent is unquestionable, even when the world around them offers few opportunities. Through this collection, exceptional craft continues to be valued, sustained and seen.
We’ve added designs of the years, view the collection here.
