MEET THE DESIGNER

Melissa Anne

Hello! I’m a handweaver with a passion for all things colour and pattern. Since being introduced to the medium during my textile design degree, I have been captivated by the intricate process of weaving. I love finding new ways to combine brightly coloured yarn together to make something both useful and beautiful. When I’m not weaving, you can often find me walking on the Yorkshire Wolds with my German Shepherd, Zack and my camera to snap up inspiration for my designs.

the design process

Colour and design

The natural world forms the principle inspiration for my handwoven collections. Colour, shape and texture are all elements that I take from plant life and landscapes which I translate into weaving from my own hand drawn designs. My interest in photography means that I’m never short of fresh ideas that I can draw upon.

Woven art

Storytelling through weaving

As well as weaving homeware goods and wearables, I am also passionate about creating woven artwork. Often drawing inspiration from my walks in the Yorkshire landscape, I use the power of this medium as a canvas for storytelling. By combining my weaving with hand embroidery, I love to use the depth and diversity of this medium to create something that is both intriguing and communicates a narrative.

Creating a positive impact

Working towards sustainable practice

The textile industry is known for its damaging effect on the environment, its unethical supply chain practices and negative impact on climate change. One of my fundamental goals with Melissa Anne is to weave items that combine beauty with practical longevity and minimal environmental impact. I do this by working wherever possible with natural materials and by taking measures to reduce the waste produced when using synthetic materials.

Quality design

Attention to detail

Creating quality designs is something I aim to achieve with every product that I weave. My hope is that each handwoven item will be loved and used for many years.