Meet Heather Orr

If there’s anything super talented textile artist Heather Orr doesn’t know about working with fibre, it’s probably not worth knowing. A real craft maven, Heather kicked off her textile journey 15 years ago at the Royal College of Art, and built up her contemporary brand around a love of process and craftsmanship. 

With a wonderful eye for design and outstanding attention to detail, Heather now spends her time turning lengths of coloured cotton, linen and raffia into a range of exquisite homewares, lighting and craft kits, all with a focus on sustainability. When she’s not working her magic with macramé, she can be found lecturing, passing her creative know-how on to lucky students or creating beautiful bespoke pieces for clients including the BBC, Soho House and Spotify Design.

From learning how to crochet bobbles and fabulous fringing to discovering the magical art of macrame, Heather’s craft workshops are the ideal way to switch off from the world and immerse yourself in creative bliss. 

Handmade textiles tell a story...

“Textiles are so important, they’re what we wear closest to our skin, and what we surround ourselves with in our homes. They provide comfort, warmth, colour and have the ability to lift our mood. Textiles can also be forms of expression and can tell stories, be artworks or high end design products.” 

The mood-boosting benefits are endless…

”You can make a super soft crochet blanket to warm, an intricately knotted macrame wall hanging to inspire or a colour popping plant holder to brighten. What I particularly love about knitted or constructed textiles  is the way  you can produce a fabric or surface from just one continuous thread using very simple tools – or just your hands!” 

I’m happiest when I’m…

“I think it depends on my mood and what I want to make! I use macramé a lot in my products as it lends itself so well to aesthetically pleasing homewares, and I love the way you can incorporate other materials with it. 

My first love was always knitted textiles, and I’d really like to revisit machine knitting and hand knitting in my work. I also find crochet really relaxing and love making things for myself, my home and my little girl (when I get a chance!) I love the versatility of this process, and how you only need one hook and a ball of yarn to really get involved in a project!”

I want students to feel...

Empowered, inspired and creative! 

Teaching others has taught me.....

How rewarding making by hand can be, and how rewarding it can be to pass these skills onto other people! I’ve also become really interested in the therapeutic qualities of making by hand and the link between making, health and well-being.