Jude Cassidy
Weaver
Belfast, United Kingdom
Experimenting with the hand weaving tradition
- Jude designs and weaves elaborate textiles to embellish interior spaces
- She works on commissioned commercial projects and bespoke art installations to keep her craft alive
- She experiments by weaving mixed materials into her fabrics for added texture
Jude Cassidy’s workshop is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland where weaving, though a deeply rooted tradition, has almost completely died out in the past decades. “There are now only a small number of weaving mills remaining, and I am among the last hand weavers working today,” explains Jude. Awarded an innovation prize in interior textiles when she graduated from the renowned Mackintosh School of Art in Glasgow, she already knew then that this craft could only be preserved by using traditional hand-looms to create modern designs. Her refined work has caught the eye of luxury maisons such as Chanel and discerning private clients. It also led her to being selected for Homo Faber Fellowship, where Jude will share her knowledge while engaging with new ideas to continue hand weaving threads into luxurious fabrics.
INTERVIEW
Weaving is a heritage craft in Ireland. Before opening my workshop, I gained experience working for John England textiles in Northern Ireland. I also had the invaluable opportunity to work for Jim Thompson fabrics in Thailand where I learnt a lot.
People used to weave in their individual homes, and then as commerce grew so did weaving factories. There is a famous term called a Belfast Millie which was used to refer to women who worked in weaving mills during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
I weave everything on the traditional floor loom and design in traditional hand looms. However, I love to explore what can be woven into the fabric. I once worked on weaving 10,000 pearls into a wall hanging, and another time on weaving wire into the fabric to manipulate the finished form.
I think they need to honour tradition yet explore new designs and materials. The new way of appreciating craft is opening up opportunities for hand weavers, as more and more people are turning to skilled craftspeople to create meaningful pieces, as opposed to mass produced items.
Jude Cassidy
Weaver
Belfast, United Kingdom
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+44 7788676062
LANGUAGES
English
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