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APPAREL
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QUILTS
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GIFT IDEAS
Making things has always been part of who we are. In 2012, we channelled that instinct into PilgrimWaters — and everything that followed has been built on the same principle: that quality is not a claim, it is a series of decisions you make every day. The decision to use natural fibres over synthetics. To select premium-quality wood for trays. To work with makers who are paid fairly and work safely. To choose an upcycled sari silk edge over a machine-stitched hem. To spend another season refining a specific material or print Pantone colour rather than rushing a design to market.
It is also the decision to stand behind what we make. Every piece that leaves our studio — whether it is a cashmere handprinted scarf, a Kantha quilt, a handmade tray, or a tea towel — is something we are proud to put our name on. That is the PilgrimWaters standard and has been since 2012.
We founded PilgrimWaters in 2012 with a conviction: that the things we bring into our homes and wardrobes should be beautiful, functional, and honestly made. Susy is an award-winning illustrator; Keith is a pioneer in computer graphics. Together, we bring a rare combination of artistic rigour and maker’s pragmatism to everything we produce. Born and raised in Great Britain, we are now based in Gloucester, MA — a working harbour town with a long tradition of craft and making. That spirit runs through everything we do.
Every PilgrimWaters piece begins as an original drawing, painting or design by Susy. She has drawn since she could hold a pencil — always fascinated by layers of colour, line, and emotion. Her work draws on a rich heritage: a family history in the arts, a background in printed textiles, and years of illustration practice that earned her representation by one of the leading illustration agencies in the USA. Our designs are not licensed or adapted — they are Susy’s own creations, created in our Gloucester studio and translated into fabric, print, and form by skilled artisans. You can explore her broader practice in her portfolio.
Our scarves and quilts are handcrafted in partnership with select artisan workshops in Nepal and India. These are not transactional supplier relationships — we visit our makers, spend time on the factory floor, and work closely with the craftspeople who bring our designs to life.
In Kathmandu, master weavers hand-weave and hand-print our cashmere and merino wool scarves using traditional techniques refined over generations. In Jaipur, skilled artisans weave, print, and finish our cotton/silk scarves — finished with a one-of-a-kind upcycled sari silk edge. No two pieces are identical. We have spent years getting our material blends exactly right — cashmere, merino, wool/silk, cotton/silk, and cotton/linen — each chosen for how it feels, how it wears, and how it holds colour. Read more on our textiles page.
We produce in small batches — deliberately. Each printing run is unique, which means the colour and character of every piece carries the mark of that particular moment in production. It is not a limitation; it is the point. Mass production flattens things. Small-batch making keeps them alive.
Our woodwork follows these same principles. Made in small, intentional batches in our Gloucester workshop, each maple tray and stand is cut, shaped, and finished by hand. These are functional objects built with a quiet precision — a different material, the same PilgrimWaters standard.
