Wee find: Haptic Lab's protest banners

Quiet icons of 'making do'.

Brooklyn’s Haptic Lab is celebrated for its imaginative textiles and commitment to ethical craft, blending traditional techniques with a distinctly modern sensibility. This (northern) summer, the studio unveils a limited series of exquisite protest banners, each one-of-a-kind and made entirely from upcycled fabrics, repurposed samples, and antique quilt tops found in their studio – a thoughtful exercise in ‘making do,’ transforming what’s on hand into objects of lasting meaning and quiet power.

Among them, Deeds Not Words pays tribute to the activism of the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters. Its moody velvet and appliquéd lettering recall a history of militant protest and the enduring demand for change.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers reimagines a 1908 British suffrage banner in heavyweight flax linen; with hand-cut letters and an understated palette, it becomes a gentle emblem of peace and persistent resistance.

Beneath the Paving Stones, the Beach and Beauty is in the Streets draw on the poetic optimism of protest, their phrases stitched from reclaimed cloth inviting viewers to search for hope beneath the surface of the everyday.

Solidarity Forever, adorned with an embroidered vine, offers a quiet celebration of unity, its subtle design suggesting that strength is often found in the slow, steady growth of collective purpose.

Each banner is signed by the artist and intended as a future heirloom. In a world of disposable design, Haptic Lab’s protest banners stand as a gentle reminder that with creativity and care, even remnants can become icons of hope and change.

Not surprisingly, all of the one-off pieces sold-out within hours, but keep an eye on Haptic Lab’s Instagram for announcements about any upcoming drops this season.

If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter or found it vaguely useful, do give the heart button below a gentle prod – it keeps the Substack algorithm gods happy and apparently helps other lovely people find Wee Birdy. If you fancy leaving a comment too, it would honestly make my day (and possibly confuse the robots in a good way). Thank you for being here and for making this corner of the internet feel like a proper community.

New to Wee Birdy? Read all about it here.