Meet some of our fantastic coast community and find out about their creative projects beside the sea
Long-time coast reader Emily James has been a fan of the magazine for around 20 years – drawn in not just by the subject matter, but also what it represents. ‘I love the sense of space and time that the magazine evokes and inspires: quiet adventure, connecting with the wild places and the history of our little island – of which the coastline is such a vital part. The story of craft is an intrinsic element of this story, and I love how coast pulls all of this together.’
As a creative herself, this ethos speaks to her. Her business, Carpenter & Cloth, based in Wales, combines her own work in textiles with that of her partner, Danny Fleck, who works with local hardwood timber, salvaged from condemned and storm-blown trees. Their different occupations are intrinsically linked to the landscape, and they use traditional skills and locally sourced materials.
Emily’s exquisite handmade garments explore the concept of modern indigenous clothing. She describes herself as an ‘architect of clothing’ rather than a designer or dressmaker, with a focus firmly on provenance, sustainability and functionality.
‘I have always found comfort in a sense of belonging to the landscape I live in,’ she says. ‘The fibre that’s produced and processed in these hills is a connection to the land and the story of our place within it.’
Carmarthenshire has a long history in the woollen industry and a similarly long heritage with trade, due to the wide, navigable River Towy connecting this wool-producing land to Bristol,
via sea trade routes. ‘These days the wool leaves by road rather than sea,’ explains Emily. ‘But our Cambrian Gilet tweed is spun and woven just five miles from Penbryn on the west coast of Wales. The garment we make from this cloth (pictured, top) is the perfect layer for walking coastal paths. I designed it to be easy-fitting (for layering) with a thermal, internal layer of wool for temperature regulation and – very importantly – deep pockets for beach treasures!’
Discover Emily’s work at carpenterandcloth.com.
