Stephanie Pfister is a woven textile designer creating vibrant contemporary fabrics, homeware and fashion accessories. Her work encapsulates her enthusiasm for colour, architecture and geometry. Stephanie is entranced by every stage of the weaving process; the journey from initial visual research; the design and colour development; sample weaving and the challenge of creating new weave structures which bring to life her modern aesthetic. Stephanie draws inspiration from popular imagery and objects from everyday life. Using bold, and unusual colour combinations in her weaving, she captures the energy and visual impact of pop culture. Stephanie enjoys the endless possibilities weaving allows for experimentation, exploring the qualities that unexpected structures bring to the weight and texture of the cloth. Her aim is to design items that are created slowly and meant to be cherished. 

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Whilst studying Textile Design at Winchester School of Art, Stephanie was immediately drawn to weaving and developed a particular interest in the technical aspects of the practice. The Diploma in Handweaving at the Handweavers Studio and Gallery, London further advanced her knowledge and understanding. Stephanie has several years’ work experience in design posts including men’s fashion, designing shirting fabrics for the commercial market. Stephanie approaches a collection with enthusiasm, starting with a storyboard gathering photographs, drawings and other reference material to create a colour and texture palette. From there she moves to the development stage exploring composition and pattern through mixed media techniques, finally sampling on the loom. Many of her designs use a double cloth weave construction. She works predominantly with natural fibres such as wool and cotton. Stephanie produces her cloth using both traditional and electronic looms. Her final work is completed on a twenty-four shaft Compu-Dobby AVL Studio Loom.

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After graduating from the Handweavers Diploma with distinction in 2019, Stephanie Pfister set up a small studio at her home in Wiltshire where she handweaves small batches of interior and fashion products. She sells these through retail outlets, online stores and galleries. She has also collaborated in several successful exhibitions along with other diploma graduates most recently at Whitchurch Silk Mill. Looking to the future, Stephanie is developing some new products to add to the range already available and hopes to continue her successful collaborations with Seven Sisters Handweavers.

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Stephanie’s work can be found in her Etsy shop, Steph’s Woven Textiles, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/stephswoventextiles/ and is also stocked by Made in Bradford on Avon, www.madeinbradfordonavon.co.uk/textile-artists-and-makers#/stephanie-pfister/ and New Brewery Arts, Cirencester. www.newbreweryarts.org.uk.