Helen Mountstevens

Repurposed textiles

Living and working in Pontardawe, Helen creates one-off textile bags, purses and other items from repurposed, vintage tapestry Welsh wool fabric. She prides herself on the uniqueness of her work, as all her designs are based on vintage ideas in keeping with the age of the fabric, yet complimented with other materials, beautifully lined and embellished with either vintage or handmade buttons, creating a truly one-off contemporary look.

I am passionate about the preservation and repurposing of Welsh wool fabric, it has so much life left even if the clothes are damaged or out of date and will not be worn. The fabric is so special to Wales, as so many of the Mills that once produced this beautiful and unique style of fabric no longer exist.

I love producing bags for a new group of customers who can enjoy the Welsh wool in a new way, making it up to date and desirable. I never make two items the same, the combination of fabric, lining and embellishment are unique to each piece.

There are challenges to working with Welsh wool, as it may have been made into clothing, therefore It can take some time to prepare, clean and dismantle the original items and cutting out each bag individually. The loose weave of some fabrics also brings its own issues, so each piece must be stabilised before construction. I really enjoy the demands of working with these fabrics, and equally, their history and quality deserve time and patience.

brynffinsewingroom@yahoo.com

 
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Origin is a co-operative of makers and artists from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Ceredigion with its shop based in the busy market town of Carmarthen. In the shop you will find a wide range of high quality handcrafted ceramics, glass, jewellery, metal, textiles, wood and cards as well as a wide range of original art work and prints.