Margaret Ruhland

In my work the texture and feel of a fabric is important- how it behaves as I work with it and how it looks and feels on the body. Hemp gives me great pleasure from all those perspectives.

Equally, I find that the colours and designs of the batiks I use are very exciting. They express so much about culture and identity. Both of these fabrics are made from natural fibres and are environmentally friendly which also is an issue that is very significant to me. Antique beads from all parts of the world have always fascinated me- I've collected them as long as I can remember.

It is wonderful to be able to use these ancient expressions of colour and life in my jewellery and to weave them into my necklaces, each one of a kind, in ways that I see as complementary to the clothing that I design.