Page 45 - Knit Now - Issue 112 (January 2020)

INDIE FOCUS

bodies and that physical intrusion at least one admin day per week in
without consent is a violation. my East London studio. Admin days
The HairPin Project promotes the tend to be following up on emails
respect of bodily integrity for women and planning for the week, as well
and other people of colour through as packaging and posting out orders,
intentional engagement with charities, and occasionally I get some time
organisations and artists who share to work on pattern design – I have
this vision. I started the HairPin Project several knitting patterns sketched
as a way to both give back and uplift out, but not much time to write them
my community, whilst also wanting up! Studio days are typically dyeing
to see if there was a way that I could days, and I spend most of my time
contribute to education and changing working on orders, including for
the way we talk about our hair. wholesale, and orders direct to my
Others that I have amazing customers.
spoken to who share I then spend some
my experience also “I started the time planning new
speak about being colourways and, if the
constantly told that HairPin Project mood takes me (and I
our natural kinky hair as a way to have time!) playing with
is not professional some new colours.
or should be policed both give back
in work or school What’s next?
environments, and and uplift my I hope to grow Third
the general lack of Vault Yarns to a point
understanding around community” where I can get a
how those with kinky larger, more accessible
hair care for it. I work studio and realise my
with artists of colour to create enamel dream of holding community classes
pins that are then sold to support the in bre arts to help people’s mental
aforementioned types of organisations health, for example by a having a
and to act as a visual reminder that calm, welcoming and safe space for
those with kinky hair are deserving of those of us that don’t necessarily
respect, in general and that breaches have that sort of space to be present
of bodily integrity are not OK. and relax in. I hope that the HairPin
Project can grow into something
What does a typical day look bigger that will make a change in the Find out more…
like behind the scenes at Third way we view kinky hair, and provide Instagram: ThirdVaultYarns
Vault Yarns? meaningful support to charities and Twitter: @ ThirdVaultYarns
My working days are split between other organisations that work to
‘admin days’ and ‘studio days’, with change people’s stereotypes. www.thirdvaultyarns.com

www.knitnowmag.co.uk 45