This shoot had no strict plan. Whilst Emily pulled in the boat with a rope, I suggested using textiles as a prop to symbolise strength and determination in her career. The image captures her resilience and the effort she's put into rising through the ranks, reflecting her journey and the opportunities she's embraced. The composition highlights her inner and outer strength, a testament to her hard work and growth.
Shoot Concept_Emily and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support _Freeweaver
Captured in Boathouse 4, Betzy stands strong and poised, holding her late father’s cherished tools—a powerful symbol of legacy and craftsmanship. The setting reflects her dedication to shipbuilding, a historically male-dominated trade, while the inclusion of textiles serves as a shrine to honour the tools and the inspiration they provided. This portrait celebrates resilience, skill, and the enduring influence of generations of dockyard workers, especially the often-overlooked contributions of women.
Shoot Concept_Betzy and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
Amid the stark and timeless expanse of Bradwell-On-Sea, a retired pioneer stands resolute, her presence as strong as the tide-worn defence barges that mark the horizon. A trailblazer in her field, she is one of the women who have paved the way for others, shaping the industry and leaving an enduring legacy for future generations. Holding a woven timeline of history, the textiles she ties symbolise the connection between past and present - threads that honour both maritime heritage and the quiet strength of those who have come before. Here, history feels tangible, carried forward by her hands and spirit.
Shoot Concept_Barbara and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
A dedicated sailor and the inspiring founder of the Women in Boatbuilding platform, an initiative focused on creating more opportunities for women in the boatbuilding industry. The woven sail adds another layer to the story of maritime heritage, nodding to the countless sails that have charted paths before us. It symbolises continuity, progress, and the enduring spirit of exploration, urging us to move 'onward' with purpose.
Shoot Concept_Belinda and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
A nod to the seafarer, she stands grounded in her environment—rugged, weathered jumper against the coastal wind, woven basket in hand. She gathers the ocean’s harvest with care, sourcing nutrient-rich seaweed in a way that honours both tradition and sustainability. The act of harvesting connects her to the past, echoing the maritime threads of foremothers who nurtured families and communities through the sea’s provisions. Diving for the best crop, she carries forward a legacy—one of resilience, stewardship, and the enduring relationship between people and the ocean.
Shoot Concept_Caro and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
This image represents confidence and empowerment, with the figure draped in fabric resembling an academic toga, symbolising a strong presence in academia. The visual connotation of strength emphasises empowerment in the field, while the natural backdrop and poised expression reflect wisdom and grace.
Shoot Concept_Cleopatra and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Nikoletta Monyok
This image captures the essence of a siren—poised elegantly on a rocky perch, a guardian of the waves, listening for the distant cries of sailors in distress. A silent sentinel of the sea, ever watchful, ever ready to guide those who seek refuge.
Shoot Concept_Gillian and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Nikoletta Monyok
On board the Kajsamoor, a two-masted ketch moored in Charlestown, sailors Hannah Hurford and Jess Clay, co-hosts of the Off Watch podcast, delve into the world of traditional sailing. Their conversations navigate both the past and present—unearthing the histories and stories of classic ships while exploring the evolving themes shaping the industry today. Dressed in matching woven jumpers, they pay homage to the timeless sailor’s uniform, a subtle nod to the seafarers who came before them. Against the creak of timber and the pull of the tide, they keep the spirit of traditional sailing alive—one conversation at a time.
Shoot Concept_Hannah, Jess and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
This photoshoot unfolded organically as we climbed to the heights of the cliffs, where the weight of the wind enveloped us, creating a raw, immersive atmosphere. Inspired by Hannah's love for sailing, we gathered and tied textiles to form a makeshift sail—symbolic of her journey sailing onward to new horizons. This imagery aligns with the third key element of the Rewriting Women initiative, celebrating resilience, exploration, and the pursuit of uncharted paths.
Shoot Concept_Hannah and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
A boatbuilder at home on the vessel she has restored and shaped. The textiles, subtle but deliberate, reflect the water she moves through—woven into both her craft and daily life. Worn boots, weathered wood, and coiled rope speak of labour and connection, while her dog sits beside her, a steady presence in a life built on the water.
Shoot Concept_Holly and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
A distinguished older woman stands on the shore, her posture both graceful and strong. Clad in a diving suit, the fabric is worn and faded, telling stories of many underwater expeditions. Around her, a woven textile is held with purposeful care, symbolising her deep connection to the sea and the traditions she has upheld throughout her career. One hand holds a pair of diving goggles, an object that represents her vast experience and knowledge of submerged histories.
Shoot Concept_Jane and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
This portrait captures the essence of a modern-day "Mother of the Sea," standing resilient against the rugged backdrop of Mwnt. As the proprietor of the Fishmongers and Fish Café at Cardigan Bay, she embodies a timeless connection to the ocean—both a hunter and provider, deeply rooted in her role as a nurturer of her community. Her presence exudes strength, wisdom, and a Viking-like determination, echoing traditions of maritime resilience while advocating for inclusivity and equity within the fishing industry. This powerful image blends the ancient and the contemporary, honouring both the photographer's Icelandic heritage and the enduring spirit of those who thrive by the sea.
Shoot Concept_Jane and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
Resilience, memory, and strength are layered in this image. Standing in waters of both livelihood and grief, her yellow waders contrast with the reflective surface, symbolising endurance. The basket, a tool and emblem, gathers life from waters that took much. Draped fabrics, like nets, weave fate and memory, presence and absence.
Shoot Concept_Judith and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Nikoletta Monyok
A sea captain on a cruise ship, standing with quiet authority as she gazes into the distance. The woven rope draped across her shoulders subtly represents epaulettes, signifying her rank and command. With a confident stance and the expansive ship behind her, she embodies leadership and the responsibility of guiding the vessel and its passengers.
Shoot Concept_Martel and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Martel
Against the backdrop of the Lloyd’s building, the heart of maritime insurance, she stands with authority and purpose. As President of WISTA UK and a Senior Lawyer at Gard UK, she navigates the complexities of shipping law with confidence and expertise. Her stance is poised, a reflection of the knowledge and leadership she brings to the industry—rooted in tradition yet shaping its future. The textile in her hands adds another layer to her story, symbolic of the experience and insight she carries in an evolving maritime world.
Shoot Concept_Monica and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
Against the backdrop of a busy maritime port, she stands at the threshold between industry and open water. Cranes lift heavy cargo; ships prepare to sail—yet it is the unseen work of regulation and expertise that ensures their safe passage. The woven scarf draped around her shoulders mirrors the Plimsoll line on a ship’s hull—a quiet but vital marker of balance and security. In her role, she navigates the complexities of maritime safety, ensuring that beneath the movement and machinery, the standards that protect lives and vessels remain steadfast.
Shoot Concept_Rhoda and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
With a commanding stance and focused gaze, draped in a woven shawl, she embodies the role of a mother and nurturer—offering wisdom, care, and guidance to society. As an advocate for sustainability in the maritime fishing sector, she weaves tradition with innovation, embracing a future where both the ocean and its communities thrive.
Shoot Concept_Sarah and all creatives involved
Textiles_Freeweaver
On Location Creative Styling Support_Freeweaver
