We got through with CREATIVITY

Three inspirational women reveal how they turned to a hobby to help cope with the most difficult of times

- KIM WILLIS

‘The process is so magical, it removed the divorce stress’

Graduating as a weaver 20 years ago, I worked as a textile designer creating prints for big-name brands. It was draining, I was paid a pittance and felt downtrodden by fast fashion. I got married and took a career break to have kids, but as the children grew up, my relationship broke down. When we split in 2016, I was on my knees, financially and creatively.

At university, I’d touched on indigo dyeing, a method of tie-dye, using the natural organic compound indigo. I returned to it as a way to do something special amid the chaos of rebuilding my life, and I discovered shibori, a traditional Japanese technique of binding and knotting cloth. I’d spend hours dyeing scarves, jackets and tops, using tin-can lids, clothes pegs and drainpipes to experiment with patterns. The process felt so magical, uplifting and joyful, it took me away from divorce stress and made me happy when I was sad.

I launched Indigowares and started selling on Etsy, then joined a women’s network, DiscovHer. It was so supportive I felt confident I could make Indigowares into a viable business. There’s a growing demand for sustainable, slow-fashion that’s kinder to the environment, and I’m proud to use upcycled textiles and keep traditional processes alive.

I also run workshops, which I love, because I know what indigo dyeing did for me and I want to share my joy with others. The look of wonder in my students’ eyes as their creations are revealed never fails to delight me.