Inspired by…
It was almost exactly 25 years ago that I started weaving. Even though I was struggling with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis that was nowhere near under control, I knew that weaving was something I had to do.
I went to the Handweavers' Guild Annual Weaving and Fiber Festival and watched the fashion show with my good friend - and brilliant costume designer - Mela Hoyt-Heydon. We each came away from the show with different visions - it was almost as if we were at different fashion shows. Mela was imagining innovative wearable art pieces. I was dreaming of handwoven Chanel-inspired suits.
Chanel Suits on display / Gemeente Museum den Haag
Coco Chanel revolutionized the woman's suit - it was no longer just an imitation of menswear. She abandoned the drab gray, blues and browns of mens' suiting and introduced color, texture and pattern in her suits for women - big houndstooth checks, bouclé instead of gabardine, and bright pastel tweeds. These innovations are perfectly "suited" for handwoven fabrics.
In this scarf, I try to capture the feeling of those suit fabrics. I imagine it paired with a winter white coat, but it could just as easily go with jeans and a nice t-shirt.
Chanel-Inspired Scarf
