With 46 years of experience behind him, Mike Hutching’s story is deeply intertwined with Axminster Carpets, once the largest employer in the local area and a place that shaped generations of skilled craftspeople.
Mike’s path into weaving was not originally planned. He had intended to work alongside his father, a builder, but timing had other ideas. During the 1979 recession, his father advised him to find stable employment for a year, and Axminster Carpets was the obvious choice. Mike’s brother already worked there, and what began as a temporary decision quickly became a lifelong vocation. He discovered that he not only enjoyed the work, but felt a genuine connection to the craft, one strong enough to keep him there ever since.
Like all weavers of his generation, Mike started at the very beginning. His first role was as a bobbin boy, an entry level position that introduced him to the rhythm and discipline of the weaving floor. At that time, becoming a weaver was not something you stepped into. It was something you earned. You worked through every role, learning each process in turn, including time spent as a weaver’s mate. This structured progression ensured that by the time someone reached the loom as a weaver, they truly understood every stage of the craft. For Mike, this journey was fundamental in building the deep knowledge and respect for the process that he carries today.
What continues to motivate him, even after decades at the loom, is the transformation itself. The most satisfying part of his work is seeing a design on paper and knowing he has the skill and experience to turn it into something tangible and beautiful. There is meaning in that moment, in translating an idea into a physical object that will exist in the world for years to come.
When asked what he wishes people understood about handmade carpets, Mike is clear. It is the level of skill, precision, and knowledge behind every piece. Handmade carpets represent the very best of the craft, the culmination of time, training, and generations of expertise woven into every thread.