Akaleka Owleye is a self-taught fibre artist designing wearable fibre art for beauty and function. She started painting and crocheting at a young age and soon progressed to sewing, natural dyeing, millinery, wet and nuno felting. Akaleka found her passion for felt and other natural materials in India collecting fleece, fabric and fibres to construct her own felted textiles by hand. She designs and creates each treasure to be a one of a kind piece of handmade, functional art. After 17 years of endless gypsy travelling she’s settled down in Roberts Creek for the moment!
Sources of inspiration grow from soft movements in nature; the interplay of colour, texture and dimensions woven within the depths of the ocean and forests. Sustainability is very important, therefore fleece (wool) is sourced from local farmers and knitter/spinner guilds while organic/natural fibres come from a small certified organic fabric dealer.
Felt is a handmade natural fibre and her creations are either wet felted by hand using raw merino wool, eco-soap and a bamboo mat or steamed and blocked (with a healthy dose of patience!). Her latest creations feature one of a kind merino and silk hats, nuno felt silk scarves/wraps, wall hangings and 3 dimensional sculptural vessels. Materials consist of merino wool, silk, bamboo, alpaca, mohair and flax fibre combinations. Fleece and fibres are often naturally and organically dyed using flowers from her garden or wild harvested plants and tree bark.
Outcomes are often unpredictable yet there is great freedom in the unknown realms of creation. The end result is a beautiful creation of one of a kind, wearable fibre art designed and produced solely to make you look and feel your best!
