About ANIMALESQUE

For the spirited, the curious and the wild; Animalesque headdresses are thoughtfully crafted to share stories, inspire transformation, and celebrate play. These original creations are the vision of textile artist Sara Lowes, exhibiting her playful yet sophisticated style in illustration, screen-print and embroidery.

Each piece is handmade using sustainably sourced materials, with a commitment to slow, circular design.

ABOUT SARA

Hi! I’m Sara,

I studied Textile Design at Falmouth University in Cornwall. After those blissful years of exploring new techniques and creativity by the sea, I moved to London where I worked as a freelance embroidery designer for couture fashion. It was through this work that I was lucky enough work in India and explore some of the rich cultural heritage of textiles and traditional craft techniques there.

Back in London, I was gaining more experience in costume design, making garments and props for children’s theatre and multi-sensory set design. Animalesque grew quite organically as these two separate worlds began to meet and mingle in my head, hands and studio.

From its early days on a stall on Chatsworth Road Market, London, and touring the Summer festivals around the UK, I’m so happy to have come full circle and to be back in Falmouth where my creative journey began. My creations are available worldwide through my website shop, through a small selection of boutique shops, and by appointment at my studio at Waterside House, Penryn.

Ethos

Animalesque was Founded in 2012 by Sara, passionate about the story of fabric. Working from an archive of diverse textiles mindfully-sourced from her travels, reclaimed from theatre wardrobes, and surplus from the fashion trade, Sara lovingly produces her collectable works with a commitment to slow, environmentally conscious, circular design.

The significance of the materials is integral to the design process, and capture stories of cultural heritage, symbolism and collaboration. With the aim to reconnect people with the materials we wear and use, Sara skilfully stitches these stories into her timeless designs, making each piece an art of its own, made to last, to treasure, for good.

Striving to work as sustainably as possible is an ever-shifting challenge. In order to stay aligned with her values, Sara endeavours to use reclaimed materials, and to source organic and fair-trade fabrics directly from the artisanal communities she works with. She designs in response to availability, keeping collections small and working outside the constraints and pressures of seasonal production, avoiding the waste, pollution, and drain on resources that too often accompany the textile and fast-fashion industries. The result: minimal environmental and social impact, and beautiful, limited-edition pieces rich with artistry and tradition, inviting you to become a part of their evolving story.

FABRICS

Sourcing fabrics from India

India produces some of the most beautiful fabrics in the world, and has become somewhere I visit often, to deepen my understanding of their production and origins. It might be a particular material that has enchanted me, or a piece of embroidery or print sample that I’ve been treasuring, which I set out to trace to its particular region.

Travelling in India with textiles as a focus has led me on some incredible journeys, where I have met generations of extraordinary artisanal communities and learnt of the depth of tradition in their production methods and the meticulous skill that goes into every inch of material, as well as the cultural, social and environmental decisions involved with their craft.

The warmth extended to me in India, the friendships Ive made over the years, and the innately sustainable processes and textile techniques they have shared with me, have hugely influenced my creative process and inspired the way I work and design.

Theatre and Fashion Surplus

My studio has become a treasure trove of collected and reclaimed textiles. In my efforts to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of my work, I have always endeavoured to use end-of-the-roll fabrics in my designs – hence the limited nature of the pieces.

The joy in giving a new lease of life to this material led me to wonder how else I could recontextualise surplus or discarded fabrics, incorporating their own history yet telling a new story. I have since had the privilege of collaborating with friends in costume, fashion and design around Europe, not least London’s world-renowned Royal Opera House costume department. Being a huge fan of ballet and dance, the opportunity to work with and re-imagine the richness of these beautiful pieces and the iconic performances in which they appeared has been a dream come true, and an endless source of inspiration.

Some other projects have included using surplus materials from the wonderful Little Creative Factory, and the joyful prints of Humphries and Begg, and I’m always keen to connect with designers of a similar outlook on sustainability and collaboration.