Sophie Billingham- BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice
Tartan and Time
I am a woven textile designer whose practice explores memory and identity through my work, translating personal experiences into woven textiles through experimentation with colour, structure, and material.
This project explores the architecture and interiors of stately homes and country houses, focusing on ornamental details such as ironwork, wallpaper, curtains, furnishings, as well as my school uniform. It is informed by my experience of growing up in these spaces, and how they have shaped my perspective as a textile designer today.
I approached these ideas from the perspective of a young girl, which comes through in my material choices, especially my use of gold and pink yarns. I also drew on motifs from my childhood, bringing in a sense of softness and playfulness that sits alongside the formality and grandeur of these settings.
Through weaving, I experimented with breaking down and reworking traditional tartan structures. By shifting density, scale, and material, I express the fragmented nature of memory while also capturing a more heightened, childlike way of seeing.
Overall, the project considers how textiles can hold and communicate personal narratives. The final outcomes are designed for fashion applications, supported by illustrations that explore how the woven pieces might sit on the body.
