Joanna Louca

Weaver

©Stelios Kallinikou

©Filep Motwary

©Stelios Kallinikou

©Andonis Farmakas

Thread by thread

Joanna travels extensively, finding inspiration in local techniques
Her collections featured in Paris and London’s fashion weeks
In 2012 she established 'Joanna Louca Woven Editions'

From a very early age Joanna Louca was surrounded by textiles. “My grandmother was a lacemaker, so I would spend hours with her, assisting,” she says. The meticulous nature of the work fascinated Joanna. This, and a deep passion for the arts, led her to study woven textiles at Middlesex University in the UK, followed by a master’s degree in textiles at Goldsmiths University. Joanna then worked as a freelance textile designer in London, creating unique woven pieces. In 2001, she decided to move back to her native Cyprus where she launched her own brand as well as a workshop that now houses three large Dobby looms. She focuses on experimental textile work, creating functional textiles for architectural and interior spaces.

Interview

©Stelios Kallinikou

©Stelios Kallinikou

What kind of work are you currently making?: A series of wall pieces through a collaboration with a gallery and two large commissioned wall installations for a Luxury Hotel in Asia. We also make functional textiles for interior spaces, such as upholstery fabrics and woven blinds. Depending the client's wishes, we show them ideas, samples and then make the final products.
Are your looms mechanical?: No, they are hand looms which are hand worked with a bobbin. We wind the bobbin and weave thread by thread. A weaver might be able to make only a metre a day, or if it’s a very fine silk or something more complex it can be even less than that. Everything is done by hand.
Where do you find inspiration?: By researching the history of textiles, I'm fascinated by pre-Colombia weaving cultures, visiting museum permanent collections on textiles, reading weavers' writings from the arts and crafts movement, my archive collections and my intuition.
How does your work combine tradition and innovation?: Weaving will always reflect our culture’s values. Colours, patterns, lengths and widths derived from local traditional weaving have greatly influenced my work. The marriage of controversial and traditional yarns, and technological yarns embedded with traditional techniques, allows constant experimentation.

Joanna Louca is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2000