Fiona Purdon is an apprentice at Kirsty McDougall Textile Design, a studio focused on making handwoven textiles for fashion, interiors, automotive, architecture and art. QEST is supporting Fiona to complete her apprenticeship, which involves learning traditional craft skills in weaving, the development of innovative practices relating to waste materials and training in the craft of production handweaving. This knowledge will help Fiona realise her ambition to stay at Kirsty’s studio in full-time employment, and one day start her own practice.
Alongside improving her technical skills on the TC2 digital jacquard loom and felt loom, Fiona is learning about running the business, selling work, various project types, and communication with clients. An area she is particularly interested in is working with waste materials. The studio has been developing ReWeave, a collection of handwoven textiles made with a range of woven techniques in fully recycled or repurposed materials. It has also created its own yarns from waste fabrics.
Having discovered weaving early in life, Fiona is passionate about passing on knowledge of this ancient craft and is committed to growing a successful career within it.
