Our story
Loom Atelier (formerly Loom Towels) is a Melbourne textile brand founded by designer Mikala James in 2011. Every collection is designed by Mikala and woven on traditional shuttle looms in central Turkey, in small runs.
Loom began with a simple wish: to make space for traditional, artisan-made textiles in a fast-paced, mass-produced world, and to honour and preserve the skills of the weavers who still practise these techniques.
Designed by Mikala James
I have always been drawn to tactile things. In my early twenties I came across handwoven towels on a trip to Turkey, and I could not stop thinking about them. That is where Loom began.
Most of my colour comes from nature, and from painters I love: the Impressionists, Klimt, van Gogh. I layer many colours into each design so that it shifts with the light in your home, the way a painting does. Textiles are more than functional things; they bring warmth, depth and a sense of heritage to a home. Design is deeply emotional. Our pieces invite touch, evoke nostalgia and enrich the beauty of a home.
— Mikala James
Woven slowly
Our towels are woven by a master weaver who has worked with Loom since the very beginning, using techniques passed down through generations. Nothing is rushed. The threads are twisted for strength, and layers of newspaper protect the cotton from humidity, without wax or chemicals. Preparing a loom for a new design can take up to ten days; only then does the rhythmic process of hand-looming begin, guided by the steady hands of our weavers.
The fringes are tied by hand, and each design is woven in a run of around 100 to 150 pieces. Our colour designs are released as limited editions and are not rewoven once they sell out. Each piece carries a rare connection between maker and object.
Natural fibres
We begin every towel with GOTS-certified organic cotton grown in Gaziantep, Turkey. Our linen is sourced locally in Turkey and personally selected by our partners there; it is stronger and more breathable than cotton, but weaving it means slowing the loom by half.
Instead of a coating that creates a soft first feel and then washes away, our towels soften naturally and become more absorbent with every wash.
Made to be lived with for years
A Loom towel is designed for everyday use, for years. Some of our customers bought their first towels more than a decade ago and are still using them.
“Something that will feel just as good 10 years down the road as it will fresh out of the linen cupboard." — Vogue Living
In good company
Our towels appear in homes and projects by many of Australia's leading architects and interior designers.
“The go-to for many interior designers and stylists." — Vogue Living
“Loved by interior designers for their covetable colour palette and beautiful craftsmanship." — Marie Claire
“We've used them in so many projects, they've become a Flack staple." — David Flack, Flack Studio
See our projects | Trade program
Visit the atelier
Our boutique is at Shop 5, Kings Arcade, 974 High Street, Armadale, open Monday to Saturday, 10am–5pm. Come and see the colours in real light.
