Members of the Press
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House & Garden UK, October 2023
House & Garden UK, September 2023
World of Interiors, June 2023
The Journal, Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, Spring/Summer 2023
Interior Designer, February 2023
”Boon & Up announce a new collection of beautiful hand-woven fabrics created in rural Ghana by women weavers using hand grown, carbon-neutral cotton.
Boon & Up was started by artist Jonathan Hall as a means of regenerating the local textile industry inrural north west Ghana, home to the Dagaaba people. It was while working for a charity in the region in 2017 that Jonathan became fascinated by the traditional methods the weavers used to create fabric.
However, the weavers told Jonathan that they were finding it increasingly difficult to make a living, mainly due to global warming; unreliable weather patterns have led to poor harvests and local farmers are left with little spare money to buy the traditional cloth.
After much research and a few alterations, Jonathan set about regenerating this cottage industry. A simple flying shuttle system was added to the traditional narrow looms enabling the weavers to create fabric up to 110cm wide; cheap Chinese polyester yarn was replaced by carbon-neutral cotton grown by smallholder African farmers under the ‘Cotton made in Africa’ inititiave; and a new palette of colours was introduced to the weavers’ traditional patterns based on the hues that the Dagaaba people paint their houses…
HOUSE & GARDEN SEPTEMBER 2020
“To make the Ghanaian textiles more competitive in the UK market, Jonathan invested in half a tonne of Made in Africa cotton yarn (certified by the Aid by Trade Foundation) to replace the Chinese-made polyester yarn the weavers had been using. He then dyed it the delicious bleached-out colours of the local houses, and worked with a cooperative of 20 artisans to create a small collection of hand-woven cushions, blankets, rugs and throws to be sold in the UK and beyond …”
HOUSE & GARDEN DECEMBER 2020
Boon & Up featured as part of Akojo Market, the leading UK platform selling handmade accessories, jewellery, homeware and fashion from independent African designers.
THE OBSERVER DECEMBER 2020
Featured in the Observer’s directory of British makers, designers and sellers …
THE TELEGRAPH DECEMBER 2020
As part of the Akojo Market, the leading UK platform selling handmade accessories, jewellery, homeware and fashion from independent African designers, Boon & Up’s cushions were chosen as one of their ‘three of the best’.
