Majeda Clarke

Weaver | London, United Kingdom

Stories woven in colour

Majeda applies a contemporary approach to weaving through colour, texture and pattern
She is inspired by her cultural background
Her designs celebrate a many different weave techniques

Majeda Clarke is a textile designer who specialises in exploring a variety of weaving techniques. Alongside the finely handwoven panels that she crafts on the loom in her London studio, every year Majeda works with mills in the UK to produce a collection of blankets and cushions. In parallel, she works with UNESCO World Heritage artisans in Bangladesh to produce Jamdani scarves. Majeda was born in Bangladesh and moved, aged 5, to the north of England. After working in school education for 20 years, she studied for a textile degree course, and set up her weaving practice in 2016. Telling a story through the use of colour, texture and pattern is Majeda's approach to her craft. She has collaborated to produce woven collections with institutions including Fortnum & Mason, and Carlowrie Castle. She has also worked on commissions of woven art panels ranging from large-scale pieces for interior designers, to window panels for private homes and public engagement art, including the Citizens of the World Choir.

Interview

©Chris Proctor

©Yeshen Venema

What is your favourite aspect of your work?: My passion is making on the loom. I specialise in different weaves. There is something incredibly mathematical and quite complex in terms of problem-solving, not solely creative. As soon as I found a loom at university, that was it, I knew I would be a weaver.
What are your influences?: The major influence for my work is the story of my grandmother's sari: the softness of it, as she has worn it over decades; the texture of the fabric; the absence of patterning – it is white with a black border; the fact that it is Jamdani, which has almost mythical status in Bangladesh.
Can you describe the style of your work?: All the motifs of my work are familiar to a person from the subcontinent, but at the same time it has a westernised feel with a modernist, geometric, European aesthetic. Colour, detail and delicacy come from Bangladesh and the old Moghul textiles.
Which materials do you work with?: For the blankets, I use the finest merino wool called Super Geelong from Australia as it feels like cashmere, while being traceable. The Jamdani is made from cotton muslin sourced in Bangladesh and India – and the key is the spinning and the quality of the weave which now has UNESCO status.

Majeda Clarke is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2015