© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

“I try to make work which is really fun and creative, which is probably not commercially viable but I don’t let that hold back my creativity.”

Name

Hannah Carter

Profession

Textile Designer

Website

hannahcarterstudio.com

© Hannah Carter 2019
© Hannah Carter 2019

Who are you? What do you do?

I am a textile design student at The Glasgow School of Art, I create knitted textiles out of post-industry waste, from materials such as waste yarn, electrical cables, foam and nets.

Where are you from?

I am from Cirencester which is a small town in the Cotswolds, near Bath and Bristol!

Your style in 3 words?

Colourful, fun and weird

Your weakness? Your strength?

My weakness is the ability to refine my work, I like to rush to the next idea pretty quick, I’m working on it! My strength is probably concept development and materiality, I have been able to source a lot of waste in amazing colours and textures which has been fundamental in my work.

© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019
© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

What makes you different?

I don’t like to stick to conventional ideas of textiles or design. I try to make work which is really fun and creative, which is probably not commercially viable but I don’t let that hold back my creativity.

When did you decide to become a textile designer?

I have always wanted to be a textile designer, it was my favourite subject throughout the whole of school and college, and I have always been making!

What do you find most fascinating about your work?

I love trying something new and it works, when you manage to create that vision in your mind it is an incredible feeling. I find the whole creative process interesting as it can be so turbulent, you never know what is going to happen until you try.

 
© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019
© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

A few words about your favourite creation?

My pink and blue spiky knit is my favourite! I feel that it reflects my fun and weird style perfectly, I love the way it moves and interacts with the user.

Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…

Stella McCartney has always inspired me to make sustainable textiles, she is a pioneer in sustainable fashion and reminds me why it is important. I also love Dutch design, the collective Envisions are great!

Who would you like to work with someday and why?

If I could work with anyone it would probably be Envisions as they have a fun and creative approach to the design process, which is exactly how I work.

A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?

I want to continue working in sustainable textiles, I would love to get more hands on with materiality. I am thinking of going into material research and actually creating my own sustainable materials.

© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019
© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

Finish the sentence „ More important than my career is…“

More important than my career is my family.

2019: Where are we going?

I would love to live in London, that seems to be where all exciting material research and sustainable textiles is happening in the UK and I want to get involved.

When the going gets tough…

Do yoga! I swear by yoga and try to do it every other day, it is important to switch off sometimes and look after your body and mind.

Your city’s favourite spots?

There are so many in Glasgow! I love the west end, my go-to pub on a Friday night is the Arlington, on a sunny day is Inn Deep. I love to walk to roots and fruits for a coffee, and the botanical gardens are beautiful! My area is Ashton Lane on both sides of Byers Road, it has great shops and places to eat, my favourite shop is the junk shop Relics.

© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

Put on your future vision glasses: What direction is our generation moving in, what will our world look like in 50 years?

I’ll have to put on my positive future vision glasses because with climate change we might not be here in 50 years… But I would like to see everyone working together to create a beautiful, sustainable world! We are all in a rat race and competing against each other, resulting in a lack of compassion for each other and the world we live in. I would hope to see more green spaces, completely using green energy and no corruption in government!

What would you do if you could change the World?

That is a big question as there is so much I would like to change. But the main thing would be the system… we are on a one-way train to destruction and it needs to change. I would love to see everyone working together to try and make positive change and to start caring about the environment. People don’t realise how important it is! We haven’t got a planet B.

If the universe is everything and it’s expanding, what is it expanding into?

I have no idea but I’d love to know.

© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019
© Hannah Carter, Living in a Material World, post-industry waste, 2019

Tell us about your future plans…

Live in London creating sustainable textiles!

Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?

I’ll be your mirror by The Velvet Underground means a lot to me and I have it tattooed on my right arm!

One last statement please: „Wood or stone, gold or art?“

Wood, Art

Your #…?

#innovation

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