While studying in Melbourne, Vivienne Jablonski saw Jacquard looms on a factory visit, and realised that industrial work could open up new design possibilities for her.

She graduated in 2005 and moved to New Zealand to design for Inter-Weave, an Auckland-based textiles supplier. Inter-Weave specialises in custom-made, high-end woven products, using natural fibres, in dobby and Jacquard-woven fabric. To Jablonski, the business offered hands-on learning, new experiences of materials and technology and the opportunity to see her own designs put into production.

Jablonski is currently researching motifs that draw on her Polish heritage. Through familiarity with materials, and the use of a hand loom to experiment, she maintains a connection to the handmade – which she considers essential to her process.

You can see Jablonski's work in the new exhibition Smart works: design and the handmade, until 4 November 2007 at the Powerhouse Museum.

Smart works: design and the handmade

TAGS
+ Smart works: design and the handmade
+ Handmade
+ Mass-production
+ Studio production