“I studied at Farnham, long recognised for its special approach to textiles education. The holistic, craft-based training has continued to guide my work, enabling me to develop cloth substance and visual detail appropriate to the context of the product it indicates.

My chief interests are in materials, exploring yarn properties and woven structures, and adapting and building on these through extended experimentation and colour application. Sources of inspiration have ranged from roman ruins to religious shrines and temples.

I am involved in a number of on-going research projects, combining both practice-based and archive located work. I also work as an associate designer for a Japanese

apparel fabrics manufacturer, where I am able to explore my ideas in an industrial context, towards developing new and original fashion fabrics for the global market.

It is often hard to describe the fruits of personal labour, and the development of ‘product’ can be slow. But, for me, the approach is as important as the outcome. My thoughts about the process of weaving were once beautifully echoed by an Okinawan friend who described ‘listening to the voices of the materials, and constructing song or story.’ I’d like to think this is reflected in my work, taking time to explore, observing and reinventing, until the cloth tells me when it’s ready and what it’s for.”

Tim Parry-Williams