For more than six decades, Nantucket Looms has woven the spirit of the island into every fiber of its textiles, capturing the essence of craftsmanship, heritage, and design with an effortless grace that feels both timeless and deeply personal. Founded in the 1960s, this beloved institution has not only survived the tides of fleeting trends but has anchored itself as a true steward of Nantucket’s artistic and maritime legacy. At the heart of it all is Bess Clarke, president of Nantucket Looms, whose passion for handwoven textiles and artisanal integrity continues to shape the brand’s enduring influence.

Now, with the release of Nantucket Looms: A Legacy of Style, the story of this iconic workshop and design house is being beautifully documented, offering a glimpse into homes that embody a philosophy of intentional living—where every textile, antique, and handcrafted detail tells a story. In this exclusive conversation, Bess shares the art of balancing tradition with modern sensibility, the growing appreciation for heirloom-quality craftsmanship, and why the home should be a reflection of personal history rather than passing trends. She also reveals the meticulous process behind each handwoven piece—where a single weaver shepherds every textile from inception to completion—ensuring that Nantucket Looms’ legacy is not just preserved but lived, one thread at a time.

Read on as we unravel the rich tapestry of Nantucket Looms and the artistry that has made it an enduring design institution.

The book highlights homes that embrace this craftsmanship—can you tell us about one or two standout homes that represent the Nantucket Looms aesthetic?

A Curator’s Compound is the strongest representation of the Nantucket Looms aesthetic, not so coincidentally being the home of long-time store owner, Liz Winship, and her husband, Todd. The home is filled with an incredible assortment of collections—hand-carved shorebirds, miniature lightship baskets, and local artwork by Ken Layman, Robert Stark Jr., and Joan Albaugh, just to name a few. Liz and Todd’s home is a perfect example of how to marry contemporary furnishings and folk art objects, such as the antique oyster sticks that she has displayed as art or the collection of insulators in her yard that illuminate at night through solar lighting. Anyone who knows Liz knows that she has a great sense of humor. Her personality really comes through in her collections.

Rantum Scooting also poses as a great example of collecting and displaying artwork and craftsmanship. The homeowners are wonderful customers of the shop and have sourced their furnishings through the Looms. They have a great eye and are avid collectors, which can be seen in their walking stick and vintage pail collections. The home has a real soul to it, having once been a meeting house for Quakers. The homeowners have honored the history of the building while bringing in a coastal vibe that welcomes dogs and sandy feet.

Rantum Scooting, a home representing Nantucket Looms’ design aesthetic.

Hand-weaving is an incredibly intricate craft. Can you walk us through the process behind the textiles that Nantucket Looms creates?

We begin by sourcing only the finest natural fibers from around the world. Each textile is a small run of 8 to 16 pieces entrusted to a single weaver, who sees the project through from start to finish.

Under the guidance of Becky, our owner and master weaver, the creative process unfolds. Together, they curate color palettes and designs, carefully winding bobbins to bring each vision to life. The warp is meticulously prepared—wound, threaded, and reeded—laying the foundation for the weaving process. Every throw carries its own unique weft, with the weaver skillfully transitioning colors, ensuring each blanket is distinct.

Once off the loom, each piece undergoes a meticulous finishing process: hand-knotting, steaming, and a final inspection to uphold our exacting standards. A carefully sewn label marks its completion before the textile makes its way to our showroom floor.

With mass production dominating the home industry, do you see a renewed appreciation for handmade, heirloom-quality pieces?

While we have always had a loyal customer base that has appreciated heirloom quality, we have noticed recently that the younger generations are embracing it and are willing to invest in these items. Our fastest-growing customer demographic is in their late 20s and 30s, which is wonderful to see.

Have you noticed a shift in younger homeowners and designers embracing traditional craftsmanship?

Yes, definitely. With everything in the world so widely broadcasted online and on social media, there is an awareness of how things are made and where the items in our homes come from. We are seeing a shift from the “new and now,” where younger generations are slowly and intentionally filling their homes with collections of meaningful, often handmade pieces, whether they are from a store like ours, an antique market, their grandparent’s home, or an art gallery.

What inspired you to put together Nantucket Looms: A Legacy of Style?

We wanted to honor all those who have been a part of our story and share a side of Nantucket people may be unaware of. Nantucket represents something different for everyone—for us, it is a place that celebrates creativity and where people are connected to nature and its history. Designing beautiful spaces that reflect the emotional connection people have to the island is what makes each home so different. We wanted to showcase this in the book.

What do you hope readers take away from the book—not just about Nantucket Looms, but about craftsmanship and design as a whole?

We hope that readers understand that, at the end of the day, a home should reflect who you are with the pieces that speak to you. Fill it with items that make you smile or remind you of special places you have visited.

With that said, designing a home with intentionality is the difference between a curated home and a home with just a bunch of stuff. In terms of craftsmanship, our textiles are meant to be used and enjoyed every day. There is nothing better than hearing that our baby blankets have held up to years of cuddling or that our throws bring comfort on cold evenings and that our kitchen towels have been washed a hundred times. This is the greatest compliment we could receive.

Do you see this book as a design reference, a historical tribute, or something else entirely?

It is both of those, but it is also a love story about our connection to the island and all those who have been a part of Nantucket Looms.

How do you envision Nantucket Looms evolving in the next decade?

We hope that our story encourages a greater appreciation for locally produced crafts, whether it be on Nantucket or in people’s own hometowns. Our book may increase our visibility to a larger audience, which will ultimately benefit the artists we represent and keep our weavers and designers busy. We plan to keep doing what we have been doing but hopefully sharing it with more people—whether in our store, our studio, or online.

“We always are delighted to see the look on people’s faces when they realize that the textiles they see in the shop are made in our upstairs weaving studio. It’s a dying art, so we are so happy that people are interested in how our textiles are created and want to invest in purchasing one.”

If someone wants to start incorporating heirloom textiles or craftsmanship into their home, where should they begin?

Visit your local artisan markets and talk with the weavers. It is often about the connection you have to the artists as much as it has to do with what speaks to you aesthetically. Then visit a folk art show or go to antique stores to find items that will add character to your spaces.

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about handwoven textiles?

We always are delighted to see the look on people’s faces when they realize that the textiles they see in the shop are made in our upstairs weaving studio. It’s a dying art, so we are so happy that people are interested in how our textiles are created and want to invest in purchasing one.

We love getting to talk to people about the process and the fibers, especially when it leads to a custom order where we get to create something specifically and especially for them. They know that they’re going to have this piece for a long time and pass it down—it becomes an heirloom.

Credits:

Written by Kacey Perez | @studioblume_

Photography courtesy of Nantucket Looms | @nantucketlooms

Interview from Bess Clarke, president of Nantucket Looms