Meet the Maker

RobPortrait.jpg

London-based Romor Designs was formed in the autumn of 2015 by Rob Jones, a passionate Japanese textiles artist and tutor.

Having discovered Shibori, the ancient Japanese art of resist dyeing, at West Dean college, Rob went on to study in Japan under indigo master, Bryan Whitehead.

In 2018, Rob returned to visit his sensei in Japan to expand his Japanese textiles knowledge and immerse himself in Japanese textiles. He made a pilgrimage to Ise in the South West, home of Katagami stencilling and to meet masters of the arts of Katagami and indigo dyeing.

Rob exhibits at MADE London and MADE Brighton and Handmade in Highgate and is a Short course tutor at West Dean College where he can share his passion for Japanese textiles.

Rob works with Shibori resist, Katagami stencilling, Sashiko embroidery, Boro mending and Kogin counted thread Sashiko.

Rob’s passion is in finding the new in the old, building on the tradition and centuries of skill that shibori has behind it. He believes in taking work in new directions by combining techniques and inventing his own forms.

A core component of Rob’s work is his love of colour and pattern, which he brings to light in his colour saturated and complex embroidery work. Traditional patterns are broken and reassembled to produce new and original forms.

Rob has a keen eye for detail and only selects the best material from which to make finished pieces. Every piece is assembled with care to ensure a beautiful and unique item that will last.

To this end Rob’s work focusses on providing the structure to contain the organic nature of the dyes and processes he uses and carefully selecting those which will form the most compelling pieces.

Rob starts each day with a meditation to clear his mind and help him to focus on the tasks ahead. Every day is different and unique, much like the work he creates.


Watch Rob Jones of Romor Designs stitch and then dye a Shibori cushion using Japanese indigo. Video courtesy of Amanda Stockley.

I love pattern and am fascinated by the way natural dyes move through fabric. Although I determine the form of the patterns I create, I still get excited to see how the dye has moved every time I remove the stitching or binding to reveal a new piece

Combining the ancient with the modern

In my work I can see the potential in reworking traditional forms into new designs. This is one of the most exciting things about working with Japanese textiles crafts, there are so many variations. This allows me to create beautiful and unique pieces that will stand the test of time

I combine different learned disciplines together to construct new textiles and play with pattern. Traditional Japanese techniques are dissected and reassembled, transforming ancient designs into new forms.

I love to invent my own patterns, whether with resist and indigo dye or as surface designs using Japanese embroidery techniques and coloured threads.

Part of my process (both in my own work and with my teaching practice) is to painstakingly research and practice classic patterns until I am confident I can use the techniques well. I then bend and reshape the technique into new forms, inventing fresh patterns and creating interesting and complicated textiles.

With my Kogin embroidery, I love to invent new motif and repeating patterns with a key feature being no repeats in colour in any row, column or diagonal. This means I get to use the maximum number of thread colours!

I am passionate about sharing my skills and knowledge and inspiring others to take up and find their own love of the Japanese textiles techniques I practice. I find sharing my love of Shibori resist, indigo dyeing, Katagami stencilling, Sashiko and Kogin embroidery and Boro inspired mending is incredibly rewarding and life affirming.


CV

Education                                                                                       

Indigo dyed shibori textiles
West Dean College, Chichester
Janice Gunner
2011

Arashi pole bound shibori
West Dean College, Chichester
Anne Selby
2012                                                                                                  

Shibori and indigo dyeing
West Dean College, Chichester                                                  
Mandy Southan
2013

Japanese indigo dyed shibori and katazome textiles
Fujino, Japan
Bryan Whitehead                                                                           
2014

Silk painting using Japanese inspired techniques
(Rozome, wax resist)
West Dean College, Chichester
Mandy Southan
2015

Using the found: stitch, cloth and memory – experimental textiles
West Dean College, Chichester
Cas Holmes
2015

Natural dyeing
Duchy of Cornwall, Lostwithiel
Michel Garcia
2016

Fabric manipulation
West Dean College, Chichester
Ruth Singer
2017

Japanese indigo dyed shibori and katazome textiles
West Dean College, Chichester
Bryan Whitehead                                                                           
2017

Teaching

West Dean

Rob is a Short Course tutor at West Dean College where he teaches Shibori, Katagami and Kogin counted thread embroidery.

Past shows and exhibitions

AIzome - The craft of indigo dyeing              
The Embassy of Japan, London
May - July 2023

The Techniques Shaping Japanese Textiles              
The Embassy of Japan, London
October - December 2020

MADE Canary Wharf              
Canary Wharf, London
April 2018, March 2019

Contemporary Textiles Fair          
Teddington
March 2018, March 2019

Top Drawer              
Olympia
January 2018

Selvedge              
Mary Ward House, Holborn
December 2017

Sparkle Contemporary Craft Fair
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
November 2017

Handmade Kew (selected for curated by Dan Goode)
Kew Gardens
October 2017

Hyper Japan, with Sam Sake
Tobacco Dock, London
July 2017

MADE Bloomsbury              
Mary Ward House, Holborn
May 2017

PikaPika at Home: Japanese Accents for London Living
Sway Gallery, Old Street
April 2017

Country Living
Alexandra Palace
April 2017

Colour Saturation” (with Jessamy Harvey, jeweller and Isabella Lepri, potter)
Craft Central, Clerkenwell
November 2016

MADE London
Marylebone, London
October 2016