Artist Statement
LAURA MARSDEN
Laura Anne Marsden is a textile designer working to develop and promote recycled textiles. Following a degree in textile design from Chelsea College of Art, during an MA Laura created a technique which uses waste plastic bags to give them a second life as home and fashion accessories.
The technique Laura created is a combination of hand-stitch and needle lace-making with various processes to change the properties and appearance of the plastic bags. This technique is called ‘Eternal Lace’. The resulting textile can be sculpted and has many potential uses. Laura is devoted to working with recycling textiles in new, innovative ways and also ensuring that the results challenge preconceptions about undesirable recycled products.
Laura works entirely by hand, ensuring that each piece is a one-off. She works also to preserve traditional hand-stitching methods while making them relevant to today’s society by using them to make Eternal Lace.
Laura is inspired by historical costume, particularly Elizabethan ruffs and cuffs. She also takes inspiration from organic forms, as well as film and music. She is currently working on a new collection of decorative pieces for the home. A collection of one-off fashion pieces are also in the works.
Two Eternal Lace Ruffs have been purchased by The Victoria and Albert Museum, London for the Contemporary collection.