Craft entrepreneur we love

Date: 30th January 2025 | Category:


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Tell us a bit about yourself…

I live in London with my spirited seven-year-old daughter, Daphne. I’m originally from Italy, so our home is a blend of London buzz and Italian warmth.

How did you first learn to crochet?

It was at the beginning of 2024, when my team and I decided to offer beginner crochet workshops. Our pattern designer, Amanda, patiently taught me the basic stitches ahead of the events and I can’t wait to have some downtime to practise a bit more and teach it to my daughter. I think she will love it!

Why did you launch Wovenbeyond?

I worked for global luxury fashion brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Diane von Furstenberg for nearly 15 years, mostly in wholesale. I had the opportunity to observe how the fashion industry relies on very long supply chains, where traceability is very challenging. I started Wovenbeyond in 2019 to shed light on supply chains and fibre provenance. Today I’m a passionate advocate of regenerative farming, circularity and biomimicry.

What are your signature products?

We offer organically dyed yarns made from 100 per cent natural fibres. My first yarn collection – designed in collaboration with Maeko Srl, an Italian spinner and weaver that specialises in sustainably grown natural fibres – blended two very special fibres that positively impact people and planet. Merino d’Arles is from France, while Himalayan nettle comes from a social enterprise called Himalayan Wild Fibers founded by Ellie Skeele, which ensures the farmers are paid a fair price for their labour and a premium price for the raw material.

Why did you decide to use nettle fibres?

Plant fibres such as nettle, hemp and flax have been used since the Bronze Age, and during World War I German military uniforms were made of nettle. Himalayan nettle is like the cashmere of plant fibres. It’s soft, light and lustrous, offering excellent thermal properties and it takes dyes beautifully. You won’t find yarns like mine anywhere else and we’re still unmatched in the market on the percentage of Himalayan nettle used in our yarns.

How did you decide on your colour palette?

The colours reflect my personal taste and a desire to break away from the traditional earthy or muted tones of sustainable yarns. With our vibrant, bold and contemporary colours we aim to show that sustainable and regenerative fibres can still be fun! We use GOTS-certified dyes, meaning there are no harmful chemicals in them, which makes the yarns ideal for baby and children’s garments.

Which yarn is your personal favourite?

So difficult to pick one! They’re all so gorgeous, but right now I would choose our bouclé yarn Crimp, because is the funkiest of all and it’s made with a third unusual natural fibre: lotus. This amazing cellulose fibre replaces the conventional nylon for the binder thread, which is the very fine thread that keeps the yarn together and creates that typical bumpy and irregular bouclé effect.

Tell us about your Tits ‘n’ Tats collaboration…

I love the quirky, fun and edgy style of Anna Tamas-Katzer of Anna’s Tits ‘n’ Tats so much that I was so happy that we got to make a kit together! She took inspiration from the regenerative farming core value of Wovenbeyond and created a crocheted purse design that incorporates embroidery techniques for different natural elements. Her Sheep Vest is a mixed techniques pattern that includes crochet and knitting skills. We just love it so much – it’s so cute! Check out Anna’s website at annatamaskatzer.com.

What do you love most about running your own business?

I’m now excited for Mondays and I’ve never experienced such a feeling in my career before. I love the creativity, and the fact that I’m learning something new every day, with no working day like another.

Buy yarns and find out more at wovenbeyond.com


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