Carpenter & Cloth is a micro business partnership, in which Danny Fleck and Emily James create clothing and shelter from the materials
of their landscape in mid Wales.
Emily’s textile work explores the concept of modern indigenous clothing, pursuing a visceral
connection between clothing, culture and environment. Danny mills local harwood timber, salvaged from condemned and storm-blown trees to create low impact cabins, home structures and interior joinery, grown from the land in which they rest.
Emily James
A love of textiles has been ingrained in my life, from watching my mother spin and knit when I was a child, then learning basic dressmaking skills from her as a young teenager, to submersing myself in antique and tribal textiles during my college years.
Intending to study fashion at university, I found that when I got there, I actually could not ratify a career in the fashion industry. Instead I studied Surface Pattern Design BA at Swansea Metropolitan, but still my work swung back to the exploration of textiles as clothing, second skin and ancient social companion.
After graduating I collaborated on building a clothing label, 'llynfi'. Determined to produce a sustainable micro-range we used GOTS certified British wool and cotton (which was truly challenging back then!) as well as Welsh Flannel. It was here that my journey into the Welsh woollen industry began.
I have a continued passion for natural fibres and sustainable textiles, both environmentally and socially, in their production and in their lifespan. I love the human connection - clothing is comfort, protection, confidence, connection, grounding, dreaming, expressive and individual.
I am a self taught proficient pattern cutter, designing and constructing all of our clothing myself.
Danny Fleck
Hi, I'm Danny. I am Emily's partner, father of two young daughters, Jessie's brother and Rob's son.
Upon finishing school I began a carpentry apprenticeship with my Dad, Rob. This gave me a thorough grounding in a range of woodworking and building skills, which I then took off with me to Spain. Spending time here and there I developed my skills, getting involved in whatever interested me. I love making things, especially if I have never made them before!
I have so far had the pleasure of
converting a stone barn into a 2 bed house
being lead carpenter on tree house building for Sky TV
completing an NVQ Level 3 in Heritage Carpentry
restoring a number of 15th and 16th century houses in the Wye valley
designing and building my own 7.2m yurt
producing hand crafted kitchen utensils and wooden jewellery
designing, making and building green oak timber fame structures such as porches, balconies, cabins and roof structures
designing and building a number of bespoke staircases
producing numerous interior and exterior doors, windows, worktops, cupboards etc
In 2016 we moved back to the family farm where we have developed the joinery workshop and timber framing and milling yard. This allows huge scope for a variety of projects using our own, home milled local timber. I love working with all kinds of people, and look forward to working with you too!