Textile Tours at Home: Frida Kahlo & the Selvedge Textile World Fair
Hello, Voyagers!
September should’ve seen us packing our bags for the Grand British Textile Tour. Instead, I’m re-living past tours through photos – above is a photo of one our groups in Bath, in front of the gorgeous Royal Crescent. As much as I am missing my annual visit to England, I know that it will be there waiting for me next year, as beautiful and fascinating as ever. In the meantime, there are a plenty of interesting textiles to discover online…
This weekend, Selvedge is hosting their World Fair online, and I’ll definitely be there. Below are also a selection of videos, articles and podcasts to keep you in touch with textiles and travel.
Experience: The Selvedge World Fair
This summer was supposed to herald the first Selvedge Magazine World Fair, an event that would have brought together textile artists and traditions from around the world. Luckily, the fair will now be held virtually from September 3-5. Visitors will be able to buy handmade treasures, take part in online workshops and watch and participate in talks on textile-related themes. Learn more about the fair ➔
Explore: Discover artist Sonia Gomes
Brazil is in my top three countries to visit. It has a vibrant visual and musical arts scene, and recently I discovered the textile work of Sonia Gomes. Gomes – who was once a lawyer – gave up her day job to become an artist, creating contemporary sculpture by wrapping textiles. Learn more about Sonia and her work in this interview ➔
Watch: Picturing Power: Elizabeth I and Frida Kahlo
Have you ever considered the similarities between Elizabeth I and Frida Kahlo? Neither had I until I watched this comparison by art history teacher Penny Hunstman, who finds many parallels between how the two women portrayed their own image in art. Watch Picturing Power ➔
Listen: The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding
I’m not going to lie, I’m a sucker for historical fiction – especially when it involves sewing. I recently read The Gown by Jennifer Robson, who fashions a compelling story about two women who work as embroiders on Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown. Read more about The Gown, then get it from your favorite local bookstore.
Virtual Visit: The Future of Fashion: Pulp It from the V&A
As disposable fashion becomes a greater concern to our environment, scientists and designers in Sweden and Britain have created wearable “paper” fabric. This video from the V&A Museum illustrates the engineering behind wearable paper and how it could be “sewn”, worn and recycled. Watch The Future of Fashion: Pulp-It ➔
Make: Weave at Home with Dovecot Studios
Dovecot Studios, the world-renowned center for weaving arts, has created a wonderful guide for creating a simple frame loom and tapestry project at home. Dovecot is a stop on the Grand Scottish Textile Tour (postponed to June 2021), and has been home to some of the most influential weaving artists in the world. Download their 6-step weaving guide, and learn (virtually) from the best!