As a family-run company with a penchant for well-made, thoughtfully designed items, we were easily drawn to the story of Mourne Textiles. Founded over 50 years ago by Norwegian textile designer Gerd Hay-Edie in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland, the company is still owned and operated by her family and produces her original designs.
Karen Hay-Edie and Mario Sierra; Photo from Mourne Textiles
An iconic textile designer and pioneer of weaving techniques, Gerd Hay-Edie made a lasting impact on the world of weaving. Her original designs, combined with her collaborations with Robin Day, Hille and Conran, made her a staple of mid-century British design. She set up her County Down workshop and design studio in 1954, where operations continue to this day. Her daughter, Karen Hay-Edie, is a Master Weaver and her grandson, Mario Sierra, helms the company.
Photo from Mourne Textiles
Mourne Textiles connects traditional hand-loom techniques and designs of the past with modern influences. In fact, most of the looms they use were imported by their matriarch in the 1950s and the internal layout of the mill hasn’t been altered from its original state. Their work today builds upon the legacy of Hay-Edie, crafting her original designs side-by-side with new ventures in carpets, curtains, blankets and other household textiles.
With their emphasis on heritage, it comes as no surprise that they remain committed to craftsmanship and their team of local weavers. Mourne works with QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) to offer apprenticeship grants to learn the vital, time-honored skills of weaving, ensuring that these beautiful traditions will live on.
We are honored to offer a selection of Mourne Textiles’ iconic designs to the Unison community. Originally designed by Hay-Edie in 1951, the Check Placemats are as appreciated today as they were decades ago. Handwoven from a blend of linen, wool and nylon, the multiple yarn colors give the placemats a distinctive texture and depth. Available as sets of four in Granite, Slate, Cloud, Blue and Green colorways.
The Tweed blanket collection is made from 100% pure Merino Donegal yarn, each one a combination that creates a unique color and texture. Breathable, yet cozy, they add warmth and detail to your living spaces. And with respect to the local weavers who make them, they reflect pure craftsmanship right down to every purled fringe edge.
This collection also features a signature take on the classic herringbone pattern that translates seamlessly as a modern interior fabric. High-quality yarns in varying thicknesses give each throw a distinctive texture and a soft, snug feel. The woody autumnal Bordeaux Poppy and Rust Bracken tones of the Mourne Mountains have inspired these blankets, which contrast with the lighter yarns that extend into a natural fringe at the edges. The deep indigo of the Blue Woad colorway offers a statement of color in whichever room its featured.