Tag: collection

  • Russia’s textile printing industry

    The studio collection has some examples of ikat-dyed robes from Uzbekistan but it is their linings that hold a fascinating story. Russia has a long history of printing on textiles. Its proximity to Asian and European countries meant that advances in printing (and other processes) were easily absorbed and altered to fit local tastes. During…

  • It’s barkcloth…

    Barkcloth is probably familiar to most readers of the blog but maybe not these textiles. Barkcloth is made by pounding inner tree bark over a hard surface until the fibres mesh together. Across the globe barkcloth is produced in this way and the studio collection has examples from Africa and the Pacific. This map shows…

  • Jean-Claude Bissery

    A new window display for autumn features a printed hanging by the French artist, Jean-Claude Bissery. Known for his use of vibrant colour and design, the piece hanging in the studio is entitled “Boucheron”, which translates as “woodcutter”. In the image a man strides through a forest filled with autumnal leaves, carrying a cut tree…

  • The Long White Cloud

    In 1980 Douglas Chowns, a Northland artist, was commissioned to create a mural for the New Zealand Council for Educational Research for their 50th anniversary. A unique hand-printed mixed media piece was the result: The Long White Cloud. This kinetic sculptural piece was inspired by the artist’s life in Northland since 1972 with stars, bones…

  • Cataloguing the textile collection

    As regular readers of the blog will know the textile collection is in the process of being correctly stored and researched, thanks to volunteers. Some real treasures are being unearthed while this work is going on and one of those is a hunger cloth by the charity Misereor. In 1976 Misereor reinvigorated the “Poor Man’s…

  • Glass… as a textile?

    Glass, that most contradictory of materials, has been used as a textile. Mid-century design in Europe and America took advantage of glass fibre and its unique qualities. The fabrics made from glass fibres are shiny and slippery, echoing the trend then for clean lines and crisp looks in fashion and interiors. A pair of fibreglass…

  • A surprise from the collection

    A surprise from the collection

    This week conserving and cataloguing the textile collection started in the studio. Over the past few months a friend has been working to research the collection items and that has been a Very Useful Thing. That research has been added to the website under the “Textile collection” link and it is filling up nicely. Now…

  • New books

    As well as the newest Context, number 47, the Costume and Textile Aotearoa New Zealand publication, a book about Scandinavian knitwear and and Kishies and Cuddies, the basketry of Shetland have been added to the library. Context is, as usual, filled with fascinating articles, collection insights and reviews, including Mayan weaving, string bags in Southern…

  • Moving the collection

    The textile collection is now in its new home. Originally, the collection, which is made up of costumes, fashion and textiles from around the world, was stored upstairs from the studio. The room in which it was kept was once the secretary’s room, just outside the general manager’s office, as was the norm back in…

  • Textiles: The Art of Mankind

    The Fashion and Textiles Museum in London’s Bermondsey is currently playing host to what looks like a rather wonderful showcase. Textiles are carriers and conveyors of histories, meaning and identity. This exhibition, on until 7th September, shows some of the ingenuity that goes into the making of them. According to the website for the museum,…