Artists' Bios

Kirsty began working in the Textile Design industry in 1990 and is formally trained in Textile and Graphic Design. She successfully exhibited multi-media artwork since 2000 throughout New Zealand, her homeland. After working for 13 years with leading interior textile manufacturers, designing printed and woven interior and fashion textiles in NZ and the UK, she started Splice Design . She designed textiles and introduced a broad range of limited edition artworks and designer stationery that sold in over 50 galleries and high-end retail outlets throughout New Zealand. Kirsty also taught surface pattern design and creative processes at the School of Textile Design, Massey University, NZ.

Kirsty established her business RE-FELT in 2009 after moving to Vancouver, Canada. RE-FELT evolved from a passion for sifting through thrift stores looking for discarded treasures and a love of texture, color, fabric and fashion.

All RE-FELT products are made from recycled woolen sweaters and found fabrics, including NZ wool fabric off-cuts rescued from a weaving mill. When scouting the thrift stores, sweaters are selected for unique colour and texture combinations along with no less than 65% wool content - but usually more. Sweaters are laundered with hot water, biodegradable detergent and agitation, resulting in a soft felted finish ideal for creating RE-FELT products.

‘I am committed to helping preserve the environment around me, so it made complete sense to realize my creations from displaced and forgotten materials, giving new identity to once loved and cherished items destined for the landfill.’