The Weaver: A fabric - based mural

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The Weaver

A new mural on the Mount Pleasant estate celebrating Ilford Lane through textile 

Ilford Lane is renowned for its textiles, long established as the go-to place in London for South Asian bridal and formalwear. Ilford also has a strong local history of residents working in the rag trade—where women sewed garments at home in bulk for large chain stores, often for meagre wages. This work provided one of the first sources of independence for migrant women in London.

This mural celebrates Ilford’s rich history and the deeper role of fabric in personal, community, and cultural identity. The Weaver is a universal archetype, appearing across mythologies—from Arachne and the Fates in Greek lore to Frigg in Norse tradition and Ixchel in Mayan mythology.

Weavers are often linked to the heavens. The Egyptian sky goddess Nuit is depicted with a loom shuttle, while in Chinese legend, Zhi Nü is a celestial deity who weaves clouds into magical cloth.

Weaving also holds deep significance in South Asian traditions. In both Hindu and Sufi thought, it symbolizes the creation of reality and the unfolding of

destiny— a metaphor for the interwoven nature of human experience.

Drawing on these themes and inspired by W.B. Yeats’ poem He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven, I reimagine the weaver not as a deity but as an ordinary woman. She is a vessel for the histories and stories of her community,

embodying the rich tapestry of their interwoven lives. She stands as a symbol of a shared, collective future for Ilford Lane—one enriched by its diverse

people, represented through the many fabrics she weaves.


Meet the artist behind the Waiver, Shauna Anseo who shared her experience:

White quote here...
Shauna Anseo


The Weaver

A new mural on the Mount Pleasant estate celebrating Ilford Lane through textile 

Ilford Lane is renowned for its textiles, long established as the go-to place in London for South Asian bridal and formalwear. Ilford also has a strong local history of residents working in the rag trade—where women sewed garments at home in bulk for large chain stores, often for meagre wages. This work provided one of the first sources of independence for migrant women in London.

This mural celebrates Ilford’s rich history and the deeper role of fabric in personal, community, and cultural identity. The Weaver is a universal archetype, appearing across mythologies—from Arachne and the Fates in Greek lore to Frigg in Norse tradition and Ixchel in Mayan mythology.

Weavers are often linked to the heavens. The Egyptian sky goddess Nuit is depicted with a loom shuttle, while in Chinese legend, Zhi Nü is a celestial deity who weaves clouds into magical cloth.

Weaving also holds deep significance in South Asian traditions. In both Hindu and Sufi thought, it symbolizes the creation of reality and the unfolding of

destiny— a metaphor for the interwoven nature of human experience.

Drawing on these themes and inspired by W.B. Yeats’ poem He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven, I reimagine the weaver not as a deity but as an ordinary woman. She is a vessel for the histories and stories of her community,

embodying the rich tapestry of their interwoven lives. She stands as a symbol of a shared, collective future for Ilford Lane—one enriched by its diverse

people, represented through the many fabrics she weaves.


Meet the artist behind the Waiver, Shauna Anseo who shared her experience:

White quote here...
Shauna Anseo