BRAMBLES & ME

This month we chat to Mia Malone from Brambles & Me

Tell us about Brambles & Me...

Brambles & Me is a natural dye business located in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. I found my love of textiles while studying Fashion Design, however it was during an assignment to research the e ect the textiles industry has on the environment that I realised I wanted to build a business that was as environmentally friendly as possible. I began researching natural dyes and in 2018 I founded Brambles & Me during the final year of my BA (Hons) Creative Enterprise for Textiles. I wrote my dissertation on the history of textile dyeing in the UK to further my knowledge of dyeing techniques. I only use natural dye extracts from roots, barks, leaves and insects to hand dye natural yarns, and I always ensure the resulting colours wash light and fast.

What can knitters find at your shop?

Natural yarns, always without nylon, that have been carefully hand dyed using natural dye extracts. I carefully blend the extracts to produce colours inspired by the great outdoors. Many of the yarn bases feature Bluefaced Leicester, which is a wonderful sturdy yarn that is soft enough to be worn against the skin. I also o er limited edition parcels throughout the year to celebrate events such as the Solstice and Equinox, and I work with artisans to o er special gifts within these parcels. I often collaborate with designers for new knitted or crocheted patterns and o er kits for the new designs.

What will be your highlights for 2020?

A highlight for 2020 is a new base that is being custom spun by a mill here in the UK. This base will only be available at Brambles & Me. I’ve also designed embroidery kits, and released a range of pure silk embroidery threads.

Where can we find out more?

Brambles & Me is online at www. bramblesandme.co.uk as well as Instagram and Facebook @bramblesandme.