Zalingai - Art of Recycling.

Creative Textile Recycling.

Original, exciting designs for bags, hats, wall hangings, rugs and drum covers made entirely from recycled textiles. Each item is unique and hand crafted by textile artist Sue Clow, bringing together the traditional craft techniques of patchwork, quilting, appliqué and rag rug making, with the wealth of wonderful materials discarded by this society, to make many original products.

Location.

Situated in the beautiful Ystwyth valley among the mountains of wild West Wales, surrounded by amazing views and earthy nature, Zalingai is a business which has grown out of an appreciation for this beauty and the necessity to create employment at home in a rural environment.

Inspiration.

The rich quilt making tradition of Wales, the rustic rag rugs and the traditional thriftiness of the people of Ceredigion have all been an inspiration; as have the recycled crafts of Arab and African people: the wonderful styles, designs, use of colour and resourcefulness. Also the movement towards sustainability, environmental awareness and recycling, especially The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Powys, where Zalingai products have sold well in an environment of caring alternatives and solutions to ecological problems.

Materials.

The textiles used are mainly unwanted clothing: jeans for denim bags; dresses and shirts for bags and wallhangings, especially velvets and cottons; jersey cotton T-shirts, sweatshirts and leggings; and fleeces for ragrugging. Linings are often made from the offcuts from curtain makers which would otherwise be thrown away. The woolly hats and bags are made from jumpers which have been felted in a hot wash. All the buttons and zips used are reclaimed and some are made from other materials such as bottle tops.