This fabric is part of our Mochaware collection designed by Kate Hawkins. Mochaware was a style of pottery that began in Staffordshire in the 1770s which eventually spread across the Atlantic to America. It was called mochaware because its decoration resembled the patterns found in moss agate also known as ‘mocha stone’, a semi-precious gemstone exported in large numbers from the port city of Mocha in Yemen.

Squiggle Stripe attempts to combine two patterns that shouldn’t really work together: free-form squiggles that echo the tree-like markings (dendrites) of mochaware with more static stripes inspired by the bands of slip. Using only fine woven lines this design, originally based on the pottery process, in the end became very much about the weaving one. 

Kate became interested in mochaware not just because of its glorious decorative possibilities but also because of what it represented. The pottery was mass-produced, utilitarian and by 1814 inexpensive to make: it was democratic. There was nothing elite about it and as such it was ubiquitous in pubs and taverns across the country. It was made to be used, and in many cases abused, which is why much of today’s mochaware has chips and cracks and oh-so-many stories to tell. We hope this new collection will give you the means to tell yours.