Sarah Brownlee wrote in idFX September 08:

Fusing ancient weaving techniques with modern materials, Sophie Hedderwick is fast becoming one of the most exciting textile designers on the British scene.

‘I love the fusion of old craft and new,’ Hedderwick says of her pioneering work in the field of smart textiles which will be unveiled at a range of events in September including Designers Block in Covent Garden. Here she will be unveiling ‘cut it out’ – a series of sound sensitive gauze curtains that respond to anything from laughter and music to distant footsteps.

Hedderwick’s studies in experimental textiles at R.M.I.T., University Melbourne have, while giving her a good grounding in traditional techniques, whetted her appetite for further exploration. Her use of neon is particularly astounding, involving the use of El wires. ‘It’s like weaving only you have to solder them together,’ she says. Also new this year is a tufted rug design (called hot shag) incorporating the aforementioned El wires, which Hedderwick manipulates through the weave before cutting the tufts around it. The resulting effect is that of a luminous stream meandering through a field of colour.

Meanwhile at Tent London, a collaboration with Mark Woodward of Definitive Furniture is on the cards. Hedderwick will be working with the designer maker to produce a unique chair with solid ash frame and neon woven seat. ‘The two colours of the seat cross fade to expose the structure of the weave,’ Hedderwick explains.

And if you don’t manage to catch any of Hedderwick’s work over the course of September, there is also a film appearance in the offing. Look out for her fabric in the flick Easy Virtue, to be released in 2009. 

see a glimpse of my fabric on Kristen Scott Thomas as Mrs. Whittaker in the hilarious can can scene of Easy Virtue

see my work featured on monocle

and on designtastic click on products