I am a visually impaired hand weaver and textile student currently on my placement year at textile studio Ambar and weave studio Maria Sigma. My most recent work focuses on juxtaposing natural features with architectural environments. Having been born with a severe visual impairment, I have had the opportunity to observe the world from a unique and distinct perspective. She focusses on the more defining details, textures and close structures of media that others may overlook.

I have always loved textiles and the process of creating and designing fabrics. Before starting my degree, I completed an Art Foundation at Loughborough. The Foundation course at Loughborough allowed me to have an insight into life at university and the opportunity to explore all the creative hubs before confirming my desire to continue onto the textile degree course at Loughborough. However, it was the quality of teaching, the universities connections with industry and the vast range and high-quality facilities available that initially drew me to choose Loughborough.

Integrated within the degree you are able to undertake a year in industry exploring, developing upon skills you have learnt while studying at university. My placement year so far has been an invaluable opportunity to advance technical skills and apply the knowledge I have gained in my first two years at university to a working environment, despite COVID challenges!

Currently I am working at Maria Sigma and Ambar Ldn. Maria Sigma is a weave studio focusing upon ethical and sustainable design solutions with a zero-waste ethos. I have been able to develop my weaving skills and learn new processes that I will use when returning to university for my final year. For my other placement I am working at Ambar Ldn, a small knit, fashion and lifestyle brand based in central London. It is here that I am able to understand
the running of a small business and help out with the launching of new collections and excitingly forefront the studios expansion into handwoven processes.

Coming to university is both a daunting and exciting prospect. Before coming to university, I had the usual pre-arrival nerves however I was just overwhelmed with excitement with all the opportunities that lay ahead.