A Makers Mark

In 1700's, indigo was a lucrative cash crop in the southern United States. The success of this was only made possible by the exploitation and suffering of enslaved people, trafficked through the transatlantic slave trade. Confronting this history caused Jo to consider the human cost associated with its use. The shocking truth conflicts with the beauty of indigo. It also prompted her to reflect on conditions in the textile industry today; an industry where forced labour, poor conditions, coercion and low wages are not infrequent or unfamiliar.

Handwoven & indigo dyed textiles form the basis of this collection. Using clay to represent hands that touched the cloth we use. Jo seeks to represent the historical facts and present-day realities in tension with each other; recognising the injustices in the fabric of our world, raising awareness, and so hoping far a more ethical future in textiles.