In business: Rug designer, Isobel Morris

ISOBEL’S PASSION ISOBEL’S PASSION

Isobel Morris, an Applied Art and Textiles graduate who won an enterprise award while still a student, has spent the past nine years developing her love of rug design. Starting off in her spare room, she moved to a small studio where she has created hand-crafted designs inspired by everything from her father’s love of 1950s furniture to the natural world.

FOR RUGS

I’ve always loved interiors, but my passion for rugs really started when I was at University. The designs are beautiful but it’s the process of rug craftsmanship that interests me. There is a physical process behind rug creation, especially hand-tufted craftsmanship – that’s a real skill. There’s a lot of versatility and I think of it as art in a textured form, it really pulls a room together.

Following my graduation in 2011, I spent time supporting rug designer Helen Yardley and her team at Decorex International in London and I’ve also been part of several local exhibitions, selling pieces locally and through my own website.

In early 2014 I had the chance to exhibit at Domotex after my rug, entitled Monarch, had been

shortlisted for a competition with manufacturers AfghanMade. My design was hand-tufted by their team in Afghanistan and is on show in my living room today. I returned to Domotex in January 2020 when I was contacted by blogger Michael Christie, who is known as ‘The Ruggist’, to design a collection for a collaboration between manufacturer Sarawagi rugs and yarn supplier Aquafil. I had to use its 100% regenerated nylon, Econyl, which is made from fishing nets and discarded old carpets. It was to be the first hand-knotted rug made with nylon made from old fishing nets and I couldn’t resist the challenge. I offered some designs that I felt embodied the brief – of fishing nets discarded in the seas, floating ghostlike – and the Synthetic Seas collection came together over a series of weeks. I love it: it uses a mix of colours, the usual blues and greys, but flashes of bright yellows and oranges depict plastic debris or colourful fish.

Although Econyl has been used in carpets before, this is the first time it has been used by a manufacturer known for its hand-knotted expertise, and what is wonderful is that now it has been used in a more time-consuming, skilled method, we’ve found it is as luxurious and the colour is as strong as natural textiles. The collection is now on the road and the team is hoping to feature it at other shows around the world. I’ve also been asked to produce more colour palettes, which is exciting.

I think the movement to use recycled textiles is undeniable and this is one of the first steps towards not just sustainably sourced materials but also a true circular economy. The public is requesting it, too, as consumers are much more informed about the use of people and materials in their goods. They are really driving this change. I’m excited at the prospect of returning to my alma mater to present to textiles students and I can’t wait to pass on knowledge that I have learned since graduating. To do what you love is a real privilege - I hope I can inspire that passion in others because it’s really important to encourage new talent.

I loved my time in Wolverhampton and it was clear from the beginning that I had chosen a course that really helped me shine. The project work and facilities were first class and gave me an opportunity to try a number of methods that I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to experience – dyeing, screen printing, digital printing, I loved them all!