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Posts Tagged ‘textiles’

The Fashion and Textile Museum in London: #fashionandtextilesforever

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »

The pandemic has hit hard in all areas of life, but particularly restaurants, shops, theaters, and museums.

One of my favorite visits when I’m in London is the Fashion and Textile Museum located south of the Thames River in Bermondsey. Founded by fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes in 2003, FTM is now run by Newham College and offers unique fashion and textile exhibits, as well as workshops and classes. (I was privileged to view 1920s Jazz Age and write about it for Vintage Life Magazine.)

They even offer Events on Demand – for a small fee (5 pounds or approximately $7) you can watch recorded interviews and tours of exhibits.

As the only museum in the UK dedicated to featuring contemporary textile and fashion design, FTM is a rare and necessary resource for education and inspiration.

Unfortunately since March of 2020, they have lost more than 80 percent of their income and the future of the museum is “uncertain.” Yikes! FTM needs our help and to that end they have set up a crowdfunding campaign. Please consider making a donation to FTM. Any donation will help. And then put this fabulous museum on your Must Visit List when next in London.

Not familiar with FTM? You’re in for a treat. Click here.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Selvedge Magazine

Posted in Fashion, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on February 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »

IMG_20200220_120019Check the label for natural fibers – blended fibers break down more quickly. Check the stitching is secure and straight – holes are better avoided than repaired. Check that patterns match at the seams. Check the garment comes with spare buttons- you may be thankful for this later. Avoid over-washing and air dry rather than tumble dry, as the lint you take out of the dryer is actually your clothes disintegrating. Ask someone to teach you how to sew on a button and darn a hole to extend the life of your clothes.

Selvedge Magazine 

Selvedge Magazine is a UK publication dedicated to “exploring the culture of cloth.” Launched in 2004 by textiles enthusiast and teacher Polly Leonard, Selvedge is published bimonthly (every two months) and each issue has a theme covering international fabric topics. The current issue (#93) is all about repair, recycle, and encouraging “no waste” in fabric manufacturing.

But there’s more! The team also sponsors or organizes events, including the upcoming World Fair in September. For three days fabric artisans from around the world will gather in London to show their beautiful wares.

Back issues are often on sale so … I couldn’t resist picking up the May/June 2011 issue, which focuses on British textiles.

Even the newsletter is special. I recommend signing up for that – find the subscription box on the bottom right hand side of the main page.

 

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Pina Cloth: Exhibit at Lacis in Berkeley

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , on April 26, 2018| 2 Comments »

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1920s dress on the mannequin.

I was a little late to the party, as they say, but still just in time to catch Pina: The Philippine Cloth of Pride, Endurance, and Passion at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles in Berkeley. Now in the final days of its run this exhibit closes May 4th, 2018 and features the wondrous pina cloth, which is made from the pineapple plant.

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Christening gown.

Pineapples were brought to the Philippines by the Spanish during the 1500s conquest. Actually it’s the leaf of the pineapple plant that provides the fiber, originally hand extracted and then knotted to form filament threads. The process continued as weavers, on hand looms, created a lightweight sheer cloth that became the “must have” fabric for all fashionable ladies of the late 19th century/early 20th century with the means to purchase the expensive clothing and home decor items such as tablecloths, napkins, and runners.

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Detail of pina cloth with embroidery,

The exquisite pina cloth, its loose weave perfect for warm humid climates, was further enhanced by hand embroidery usually in white but sometimes in color.

Pina cloth was popular among the wealthy in the Philippines (with both men and women) up until the 1980s when tastes changed and shifted over to less expensive cotton. But current designers and stylists are showing pina cloth again, attracted to the history and beauty of the fabric. The prices, however, are still high since there are very few pina producers around. To keep costs down, often pina is blended with cotton or silk.

This exhibit itself is located inside Lacis expanded space off the main store and requires one of the staff members to escort visitors. Many pieces are mounted on a black background while a few dresses and blouses are displayed on mannequins allowing for an up-close look. It’s a no-frills presentation in a simple, small space giving the attention to the fabric. There are examples of pina cloth from the late 1800s up to the 1920s. Most from a private collection.

For anyone interested in textiles and/or fashion history this is a rare opportunity to see antique and vintage pina and well worth taking a peek, but hurry … it closes May 4th. There are guided tours for two or more visitors but at specific times and a reservation is required. (Check the website.)  While you’re there, also take time for the just opened exhibit of shawls – The Fringed Shawl: Transcending Generations and Cultures.

Pina: The Philippine Cloth of Pride, Endurance, and Passion at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St., Berkeley.

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