Contemporary Hempery - KItty Wilson Brown And Claire O'sullivan

Contemporary Hempery is a vibrant project based in the heart of Suffolk, dedicated to reviving the UK's hemp textile industry. Founded by artists Kitty Wilson Brown and Claire O'Sullivan, the project reconnects the entire journey from field to fabric by growing, processing, spinning and weaving hemp using handmade, bespoke tools. For centuries, Suffolk was renowned for producing exceptional hemp cloth, supplying markets across England. Although the industry disappeared in the early 1800s, its legacy remains embedded in the landscape through place names such as Hempton, Hempstead and Hempnall. Contemporary Hempery has three core aims: to revive the cultivation of hemp for textiles in the UK, to showcase the beauty, versatility and creative potential of contemporary hemp cloth, and to reconnect local and wider communities with this remarkable material.