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 necklace was made using linen bought from Berkeley fashion designer Erica Tanov's remnants sale approximately 16 years ago. Since then the fabric has lived a long life with Byrne, who was unsure how to best use it. It eventually sustained some sun damage, bleaching parts of the pattern away, and she felt compelled to finally give it a new life that can use the changing colors as a highlight.

This necklace is bound together in a set of 7 strands.

Materials: Linen

Approximately 37“ long.