Social Inclusion and Weaving
by Roland Pieter Smit, Studio Ro Smit
The story of Roland Pieter Smit's Wolwaeren blankets and rugs begins on the small Dutch island of Texel. The designer and founder of Studio Ro Smit was researching and trying to reassess the current value of wool.
As Dutch sheep are raised for meat consumption, their wool has become a by-product, not valued because of the high cost of sheep shearing.
Intrigued by the incredible material and possibilities, the Dutch designer joined Maartenshuis, an institution for people with mental and physical impairments who work with manual weaving.
Observing the craftspeople who worked on the loom, he discovered that every artisan in the community has their own talent: "Autistic people do, for example, very precise and delicate work, while people with Down syndrome want to see quick results," explains Roland Pieter Smit.
After this conclusion, he developed yarns of different thickness: thick and very fine. To efficiently work with the new yarns, he built a new loom. Then he extended the weaving frames in which he enlarged and simplified it.
The workplace has enabled stimulating social interaction among its creators.
The final results are the blankets and carpets made from raw wool, with an authentic look and beauty.
Wolwaeren by Roland Pieter Smit and craftpeople from Maartenshuis