Behind the Blanket
Shot from Cushendale Woollen Mills Co Kilkenny Ireland
Touch is a desired sense, now more than ever before.
‘Touch’ came to life through working with Irish Woollen Mills Cushendale.
Six generations of the Cushen family have devoted themselves to crafting superior quality textiles in the small town of Graiguenamanagh Ireland from the 18th century to the present day.
Cushendale is one of only two remaining woollen mills in Ireland collecting Irish fleece to dye, spin and weave at their heritage mill. Mc worked closely with Miriam, (the daughter of Philip Cushen).
Miriam carries on the tradition of this family’s incredible story.
Mc loves Cushendales remarkable story of one family’s vocation to woollen textile manufacturing, a valuable and fully sustainable natural resource, continuing on in slow fashion. Mc is proud to work with an indigenous Irish wool and share this specially woven fabric in her “Touch” blanket.
Although this collection is a small batch of only 50 blankets the story and work behind grows deeper.
The blankets were created with wool from the rare and protected sheep called the “the galway”. The Galways are traced from flock to fleece to fabric as they continue to live happily in Co Wexford, Ireland.(MCs childhood home)
Mc’s previous work in “fast” fashion created an awareness and guilt on what our consumer focused world is doing to our planet. She continues to work on a larger piece of work, evolving her senses series to promote empathy for our planet and the species that we share it with.
The objective of this collaboration is to create awareness and discussion whilst also offering beauty and comfort to the world in a sensitive and considered way.
She hopes to create an awareness of the material used and manufactured, promote a discussion on what is a ‘happy product’ and inspire the consumer to take a moment to consider their habits.
Mc is aware of our transient existence on this planet and that we will all depart and leave our belongings behind some day. The beauty and idea of “Touch” the blanket is as a family heirloom that will last beyond a lifetime and can be used by generations to come.
All images below shared by the Cushen family ,
Blanket in progress during lockdown 3.0
“I hope this blanket goes beyond the ‘touch’ factor. My desire is for it to reach an audience who want to evolve and grow to consume in a slower conscious fashion”
