Saoirse Byrne’s exploration of cordage began with learning to twist wild harvested plants with Tamara Wilder. Curious, she applied the process to the abundance of materials in her studio and life. Having held on to her great grandmother’s threadbare handkerchief for decades – precious but unusable – Saoirse turned to cordage. It became a strong, loving reminder of her – a necklace that she could wear and a process that she could share.

Saoirse’s work focuses on materials that can be salvaged and reused, as well as eco-friendly, naturally grown fibers. She loves to reclaim textiles and preserve the memories and joy that they once brought previous owners.

This piece features organic heirloom cotton created by Sally Fox. A pioneer in the cotton industry, Sally has worked for decades to restore these naturally colorful and pest-resistant varieties using organic, biodynamic farming. Saoirse views Sally’s work as emblematic of the modern effort to shift from exploitative farming practices towards farming sustainably and for good cause. At the splices you can see the memory of the rib knit, hints of indigo from dye experiments, and some of the early generation of colored cotton showing through.

Materials: Foxfibre® rib-knit cotton, Indigo dye, brass beads

Approximately 57“ long.