Jo Nash Textiles

Jo Nash Textiles Heading

The Creator

Photo of Jo Nash the Creator in the coutryside with green fields and blue sky.

Hi.  My name is Jo and I am the creator and designer of beautiful, sustainable, slow, organic fashion and décor for Jo Nash textiles.

My creative adventure started back in the 1970s when I first learnt to spin at my mother’s knee. Or should that be wheel?  I have always loved sheep, to the extent that I woke my parents up every morning when I was 6, to feed the orphan lambs.  This led to my PhD researching wool growth in sheep.  Another passion has been colour, from chromatography of felt tip pens to discover the different pigments they contained, creating dyes in A level chemistry to playing with colour in the 1980s.

These interests combined with my caring about the environment and climate change into Dorset Wool.  My yarn business, where I organically grow the dye plants and using British wool create lovely, coloured yarns for all types of craft.  I started the business in 2012 and a couple of years ago decided that I needed to change direction.

I spent the last few years developing my weaving skills.  Now I focus on using the organic wool from my small flock of Portland sheep to create lovely scarves, cushions and rugs for you and your home.

My aim throughout the process is to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.  All the fibre processing is by hand, and I use rainwater collected from my roof for washing and dyeing.  The flock produces organic wool and I row the dye plants in my organic garden.  The dyes I use have been employed to create colours since at least the Iron Age and probably earlier.  This means that they are proven for longevity.  Think about the Bayeux tapestry which uses the same dye plants, providing a link to our ancestors.

Photo of the Dorset countryside n the sunshine looking at the tree covered hills in the distance. The sky is a beautiful deep blue.

Inspired by my walks in the Dorset Downs, I love to create unique objects. No two scarves, rugs or cushion covers will be the same (unless you want them to be).  To use up ‘waste’ yarn and fabric, I make individual book marks, mug rugs and key fobs.  If you have an idea for a commission, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I will try to fulfil your requirements, within the limitations of the yarn!

In the meantime, for updates on my progress, what I am up to or the shop, as new pieces are added, please sign up for my newsletter.

Happy creative slow fashion.

Jo

PS If you have any specific questions or want to ask about a custom created piece especially for you then please contact me.
Alternatively keep up to date with my projects and day to day happenings by following me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. You can also sign up for my newsletter, which will give you sneak peaks and provide information on upcoming launches.