Creating content for the launch of our brand new innovation Rydal Apparel - WORN & RE-BORN we enlisted the help with UK-based paper artist Sarah Matthews to bring the paper to life.

Q & A with Sarah Matthews, Paper Engineer

Hi! I’m Sarah Louise Matthews and I’m a freelance paper engineer, paper cut designer and published author based in Yorkshire. I worked with James Cropper to design and create a diverse, bespoke papercut and paper sculpture to tell the story of Rydal Apparel – WORN & RE-BORN.

Sitting down with Kate Gilpin, Packaging Product Manager for James Cropper Paper & Packaging, Sarah explains what it was like to exclusively work with Rydal Apparel Denim White 220gsm…

Working with the fashion industry and partners, James Cropper is the first paper mill to upcycle used textiles as a fibre source for luxury packaging paper.

KG:

1. What was your first impression of Rydal Apparel?

SM:

Its so tactile! The texture and the subtle markings created by the flecks of fibre are so beautiful.

KG:

2. What was the paper like to work with?

SM:

The paper was a pleasure to work with! It’s always a joy to work with such a beautifully tactile paper, but I also found that it also cut and folded well which was perfect for me.

KG:

3. What first caught your eye when you saw Rydal Denim White?

SM:

The denim fibre is definitely visible within the paper, which is beautiful but also helps to tells the story of the paper - Without seeing it, it’s hard to believe that worn recycled denim could be made into paper, but feeling the paper and seeing the visible fibres really helps you to imagine the manufacturing process.

For the first time, used jeans are being transformed into paper for packaging.

KG:

4. What about this project has inspired you?

SM:

The Rydal Apparel itself is so inspirational. I’m (unsurprisingly) a bit of a paper geek and love seeing amazing innovations in paper manufacturing. I can’t wait to use it again in future projects!

KG:

5. What has been your favourite part of working on this project?

SM:

My favourite projects to work on are always the ones involving creating a paper version of an ‘everyday object’, so this was completely up my street, but I think my favourite part of it was getting to experiment with such a lovely new paper.

KG:

6. Had you heard of James Cropper before this project? What does working with them mean to you?

SM:

I had, yes! I’ve worked with your Vanguard papers before, and was aware or your Mill being located in the Lake District. Aside from the fact that it's been so great working with such a pioneering manufacturer, it’s so wonderful that the Mill is based in the North of England, as am I.

KG:

7. What do you love most about the artistic process?

SM:

I think my favourite part of the process is just the magic of transforming a flat sheet into a three dimensional piece. I love finding ways to create the textures and forms needed for each piece and it’s always so satisfying overcoming an obstacle and finding a new way to work with paper through experimentation.