Meet the Designer: Nadine Marchal

Q: You have had a long and fascinating career as a fiber artist and weaver (and more!). Can you give us a short summary of your career and pathway to where you are now?

 A: As far as I remember, or from my parents’ words, since I was a child, I always had the need to create. 

Weaving came later. First, I started with painting, sketching, collage, always the desire to mix materials.

When I discovered weaving, 28 years ago, I immediately fell in love due to the alliance of beautiful materials with an incredible technicity. Step by step, I understood that it was the path to follow…

But life is surprising! I didn’t start right on a loom. First, in the beginning of the 90’s, I started working with American brands as a textile designer and art director. I was designing for industrial Jacquard looms, creating narrow woven straps for sandals, outdoor brands, mountaineering gears, pet accessories…

My favorite thing was to work with technicians on the looms. I understood quickly how technical it was and that weaving was a long and difficult process.

Through these different collaborations I started to travel. All around the world, I met weavers; weavers working with the roots of weaving and ancestral knowledges. I learn so much then!!!

It changed my life. It’s been a revelation. I understood how weaving and nature were connected. It was urgent to save this knowledge that has already disappeared in so many places. 

So, nine years ago, I decided to buy my first loom to create pieces to elevate this amazing handcraft tool and philosophy.

I have chosen two ways to show the weaving art to a bigger audience:

First way, thanks to my long experience in the industry, I was able to offer an expertise and then to create a bridge in between this industry and the handcraft world. 

Both knowledges can collaborate. This is now possible for me, by weaving limited series or woven swatches samples on my loom for different brands.

Second way was to experience woven art. Freedom of creativity. Telling stories about subjects like deforestation or the pollution of the ocean… 

My constant goal, is to weave with natural materials to honor nature as much as I can. I’m collaborating with local wool organizations, artisans who are creating their own yarns by hand. 

I also created “Weaving for Change”, an international movement of collaborations of people: craftsmen, artists… to promote a manual, cultural and spiritual heritage; the qualities inherent in the work of art.

Q: You have done quite a bit of art beyond weaving. Can you tell us about your work in other art forms? How does/ has this influenced and expanded your woven art?  

A: I think I always been attracted by combinations of materials to express what I could see when I was watching a piece of rock, wood, tree, water… Superposition, depth… Painting, screen-printing… have been my first way art forms expressions even if I was already in the middle of industrial weaving machines.

But still,  each time the challenge is to translate an emotion, a message into a piece of art. I feel much more freedom today to express all these feelings into a woven art than painting for example…

I feel an infinite space of creation with also a form of spirituality linked to weaving that I had not felt before.

Q: What are some of your favorite ways to find inspiration for your work?

A: Nature (An infinite and soothing inspiration), forest, Animals, water…

Music

Scenes of daily life

Dreams and vision

Without conscientiousness I always come back to very present ethnic inspirations, native communities where art started as a language.

Q: Out of the countless projects you have been a part of, do you have a favorite? If so, what makes it your favorite?

A: My favorite is to create a woven art piece that can weave so many links and can deliver messages.

One is to link music and weaving: two ancestral arts that are essentials to me. 

Another important one is to create a bridge in between art and industry by creating very limited collection of different products, inspired by a woven piece of art, to pay tribute to nature and native artisans.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about Weaving for Change? What is it, how did it begin, and how are you involved?

A: “Weaving for Change”, initiated by Nadine Marchal, is a movement for collaboration in which works are created to connect people, values and expertise, or to carry out people-centered actions. By combining unique skills, “Weaving for Change” elevates the manual, cultural and spiritual heritage that is so much a part of any work of art.

This foundation was made possible thanks to the generosity of two sponsors: Darina Santamaria and Julien Jean ; two art and life lovers.