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# Project Description SEAFOLK Jenna Handley Summary Final work Jenna Handley is a textile designer and material researcher whose practice sits at the intersection of traditional craft and innovative biomaterials. She explores how historical methods and ideas can be used as models for regenerative solutions with the aim of supporting both the heritage and future of textiles. Her current work encompasses seaweed based biomaterials and dyes, textile waste, and natural fibres. Jenna Handley is a textile designer and material researcher whose practice... College Central Saint Martins Course MA Biodesign Graduation year 2025 SEAFOLK goes beyond offering solutions to fast fashion, and further explores biodesign's role in supporting communities, ecosystems and the future of heritage crafts. Seaweed surrounds the Cornish Coast, with over 500 species thriving beneath its waves. It's carbon sequestering capabilities and rapid growth rates valorise its prospects as a regenerative renewable resource. With thousands of tonnes washed up every year, SEAFOLK employs responsible harvesting to reimagine this abundant, local resource as a natural dye and alternative material. By drawing on the sustainable design of a Cornish Gansey (a traditional fisherman's jumper) and using seaweed-based biomaterials and local wool, the project aims to revive this craft, support local artisans and celebrate local resources. SEAFOLK adopts a circular approach - spinning, dyeing and knitting sea-sourced materials designed to return to the ocean and biodegrade without a trace. From the sea. To the sea. Final work Gansey Inspired Jumpers: Gwiadores and Pyskador GWIADORES Cornish for ‘knitter’, Gwiadores is a collaborative piece in celebration of local knitters. It aims to highlight the maker and give a voice to the historically silenced ‘women’s work’ and currently silenced material supply chain. Traditionally Cornish Ganseys were knitted in patterns specific to each fishing village or family. Tragically this was said to help identify those who lost their lives at sea (or so the fishermen’s tale goes). For this piece, each knitter has chosen their local pattern or one which resonates with them. These have then been dyed pink with dulse seaweed and sewn together with the seaweed based seafibre yarn. The design differs from a traditional gansey through shape and colour. The pink was inspired by pink ganseys found in Anstruther Museum Scotland, proof that women used to follow the fleet, whilst the balloon style sleeves were influenced by old photographs of the women knitting and the styles they would wear at the time. A decorative yet practical long tail cast on and ribbing has also been used. PYSKADOR Cornish for ‘fishermen’, Pyskador is a celebration of the Cornish gansey’s historically practical and durable design with traditional features such as a symmetrical neckline incorporated. This enabled the garment to be worn either way around, and due to even wear and tear, doubled the garment’s life span and halved its carbon footprint. Other traditional features include the diamond shaped underarm gusset and shoulder straps. Opposed to using the seafibre yarn more decoratively, Pyskador features the yarn to add strength to areas which may receive more abrasion. This idea came during a conversation with one of the knitting groups. They were surprised at the strength of the spun seafibre, and noted how it reminded them of nylon which can be used to reinforce items which undergo a lot of wear, such as socks. It has therefore been included on the elbows, ribbing and cuffs. The pattern used is from the local village of Sennen. and the jumper has been dyed a traditional blue with spirulina algae. Details of Jumpers Details depicting how the seafibre yarn has been incorporated, both decoratively and to reinforce the elbow. SEAFIBRE: fibres made from seaweed Seaweed Dye Extracted phycoerythrin pigment from dulse, a red algae. This has then been used for dyes. Photographed by Pink Wave Photography. Research and process Dulse Dulse seaweed photographed by Pink Wave Photography. Process Photos: Seaweed to Yarn Image 1: Milled seaweed during the alginate extraction process, Pink Wave Photography. Image 2: Extracted alginate. Image 3: Alginate extruded into a yarn. Image 4: Spinning seaweed yarns on a drop spindle, Pink Wave Photography. Image 5: Spun and plied yarns. Share this project SEAFOLK goes beyond offering solutions to fast fashion, and further explores biodesign's role in supporting communities, ecosystems and the future of heritage crafts. Seaweed surrounds the Cornish Coast, with over 500 species thriving beneath its waves. I... A link to this page has been added to your clipboard Browse related work Archives & Collections Beyond Human Climate Emergency Community Textiles Sustainability Regenerative Knitwear Heritage Craft Natural Research Process Collaboration Community Environment Future Ecology EnvironmentalResponsibility Hyperlocal Wool Dye SociallyEngaged Science
# Links ## Official page - https://ualshowcase.arts.ac.uk/project/642991/cover ## External - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-handley-b4561a157/ - https://www.instagram.com/seafolk_studios - mailto:jennifer.m.h@hotmail.co.uk - https://forms.arts.ac.uk/client-enquiry-form/ - https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F642991%2Fcover&text=SEAFOLK - https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fualshowcase.arts.ac.uk%2Fproject%2F642991%2Fcover&media=https%3A%2F%2Fportfolio-tools.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2F03191819%2FArtboard-1-3.png&description=SEAFOLK