Selvedge Magazine

The Selvedge Winter Fair 2024 Saturday 30 November, 11-5 pm | St Mary's Marylebone London The Selvedge team brings a curated collection of 90 merchants and makers to Marylebone. Our exhibitors offer a range of rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery, and skilfully handmade textile treasures. The Selvedge Fair is the perfect opportunity to seek out unique handcrafted gifts and meet the talented people who create them. Book your ticket! https://lnkd.in/eEbUice7 #christmasiscomming #winterfair #selvedgewinterfair #textil #handmade #textiletreasures

Handmade Chelsea 2024 @handmadebritain From the 7th-9th November, Handmade Chelsea, now one of the UK’s longest-running craft shows, will open its doors at Chelsea Old Town on London’s iconic King’s Road. This year, stunning textiles abound in a show packed with beautiful handmade work from over 120 of the UK’s finest designer-makers. Utilising beautiful woven, handknitted, embroidered, embellished and printed fabrics, Handmade Chelsea will offer attractive and stylish clothes and gorgeous scarves, gloves, bags and accessories for lovers of all things textile (and in perfect time for Christmas gifting)! Running from 7th-9th November with a Private View on the evening of Wednesday November 6th, VIP tickets and Advanced Standard tickets are still available to purchase online at https://lnkd.in/eCaqy6BV images of exhibitors @aeyglom_ceramics @annapritchardtextiledesigner @ossianknitwearstudio @suecopeland_

HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT The ascendancy of Stewarton in Scotland’s male-dominated hand-knitting industry It is not known why or how men came to knit the large flat bonnets that would become the iconic headwear of Scotland’s labouring classes. Still, it is known that the men organised themselves into professional craft associations as early as the late 15th century and could provide for themselves and their families by producing handknitted items. Long before knitting was practised as a domestic pastime by women in Scotland, the bonnet makers of Dundee were the first to incorporate as a guild to protect their craft. It was considerably later that the bonnet makers of Stewarton, who developed new products, distribution networks, and overseas markets and formed their organisation, which would endure while bonnet making in other parts of Scotland died away. The bonnet became popular among working-class men in the Lowlands and the Highlands, as it protected the head and face in Scotland’s inclement weather. Bonnets were sold in Dundee’s burgh market, with a steady stream of customers. According to the historian, T.S. Smout, in its day, the bonnet was so ubiquitous that it was “even more a mark of Scottish identity than the plaid.” The bonnet’s popularity lasted well into the 18th century; however, by mid-century, bonnet making in Dundee was in serious decline while the craft was on the rise in Stewarton. (...) Please read the entire article on Selvedge issue 121, Adorable. Hold on to your Hat by Michael Harrigan. The link is provided in our bio. Image: A recreation of the traditional Scots blue bonnet by the author of the article, following the knitting techniques of the early bonnet makers.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS In the world of flora, the marigold flower holds a special place. Admired for its vibrant hues, it’s not just a feast for the eyes but also a symbol steeped in culture and tradition across the globe. During November, across Mexico, fields radiate a sea of orange and yellow as the cempasuchil (marigold flower) blooms. Synonymous with the Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, this annual Mexican festival has become a global phenomenon. People venture from all corners of the world to experience Mexico in its brightest and most colourful celebration. At its core, this festival honours the lives of loved ones who have died. The golden raise of the marigold is believed to guide the souls of the departed back to the world of the living during the celebration. While the primary days of celebration fall on the first two days of November, the ritual preparations begin a week prior. Traditionally, for those living in rural regions of Mexico, families come together and journey into the mountains to collect wild marigold flowers or visit their local village markets to purchase blooms from farmers. The marigold is used to decorate the ofrenda, an altar dedicated to deceased family members and displayed in their family’s home, local cemeteries beside graves, and in public spaces: parks, shop windows, and street displays. (...) Read the entire article on Selvedge issue 121, Going to Seed, Adorable. The link is provided in our bio. First image: Ofrenda made from marigolds from Dia de los Muertos, Ihuatzio, Michoacan, Mexico, 2017. Image by Richard Ellis. Second image: Dia de los Muertos decorations at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, 2023. image by Katerina Knight

Selvedge Textile Tour, India 2025 The tour begins in New Delhi on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, at 6 p.m. with a welcome dinner and ends in New Delhi on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, at noon. Options: 12 February–25 March, Delhi–Delhi, Day 1–42 12 February–2 March, Delhi–Mumbai, Day 1–19 5 March–25 March, Mumbai–Delhi, Day 22–42 Optional trip to Agra Additional night at the Imperial New Delhi Additional night at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai Selvedge has always been devoted to India, a country that has filled the pages of the magazine with an almost incomprehensible wealth and variety of textiles. The emotional attachment we feel for cloth is shared by the people of India, from the heirloom saris as well as the designs of Aneeth Arora and Neeru Kumar to the colourful odhani, choli, and ghagra. We could fill every issue with beautiful material from the subcontinent. It’s my pleasure, then, to invite you on a voyage to India, a journey that will see the pages of Selvedge come to life, from handloom weaving, and the exuberant, colour-filled streets of Rajasthan, to the metropolitan cities of Delhi and Ahmedabad, where modernity juxtaposes with traditional lifestyles. Next year's Selvedge textile tour to India will begin in Delhi, travelling through Ladakh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, learning the textile stories embedded in these regions and their culture. We will enjoy the diverse landscapes in which textile histories are inextricably linked and which have fostered unique textile practices. From history and the theory of textiles to practical hands-on workshops, discussions, and guided tours, join us on a textile adventure and immerse yourself in the textiles of India. Group sizes will be limited to no more than 14 people. Please register your interest with Polly Leonard, editor@selvedge.org.

GOING TO SEED Marigolds – when cultural celebrations and religious rituals meet textiles (...) In the village of Bhikamkor, Rajasthan, at the Saheli Women workshop, the marigold is at the centre of exciting explorations into the possibilities of plant colour and its commercial viability. The marigold is combined with other natural dyes and mordants to produce green and red tones, representing the vibrant explosions of colour that are synonymous with Indian celebrations. This offers an expansive palette of natural colours for the brands that they partner with to select from. The Maryam dress, printed and constructed by Saheli Women for Lekha, a sustainable womenswear brand based in the United States, exemplifies how ecoprinted fabrics are developing in sophistication and style to appeal to the global fashion market. The marigold continues to grow in popularity, and Vaishnav reveals the plans for Saheli Women: “We are developing a marigold farm at the Kali Beri studio. Many of the ladies in our village have agricultural knowledge, and the creation of the farm will support our capacity to hire more women in the village. This project was born out of our desire to condense our value chain and supply a direct source of marigold flowers for our natural dye team.” (...) Read the entire article on Selvedge Issue 121, Adorable.

Five Minutes with a Friend: Sue Copeland Join us as we sit down with Sue Copeland, one of the talented makers at our Winter Fair. With a rich background in fashion and textiles, Sue reveals the inspirations that have shaped her unique approach to design, colour, and fibre. Discover the stories and experiences that drive her creativity and passion for her craft. After working as a fashion designer, Sue Copeland set up her own collection of handloom and hand-embroidered scarves, throws, accessories and bags using natural fibres such as cotton, linen, silk and Merino wool that reflect Sue’s passion for sustainable and authentic craftsmanship. With years of experience as an international fashion designer in the luxury fashion industry, Sue has used her passion for fabric, colour and form to create beautiful, one-off pieces showcasing the uniquely rich colours of the Marrakesh souk. These heirloom garments, created with natural fibres and crafted using ancient techniques, are premium investment pieces that will not only last but will become your most reached-for items for years to come. Enhancing any outfit, the pieces showcase stunning detail, super soft fabrics, delicate weaving and intricate embroidery. What is your first memory of a textile? The first textile I remember was from when I was about five years old. My grandma had a doll with a beautiful dress made from a Liberty print with lacy trim. (...) Please visit our website to read the complete interview on Selvedge Stories. The Selvedge Winter Fair 2024 takes place on 30 November 2024 at St Mary's Church, Wyndham Place, York St, London, W1H 1PQ. Learn more and book your ticket to join us: https://lnkd.in/eEbUice7

SELVEDGE WINTER FAIR WORKSHOPS Come to the Selvedge Winter Fair and Participate in our Workshops. Saturday 30 November 2024, In-person St Mary's Church, Wyndham Place, York St, London, W1H 1PQ -Wreath Making Workshop with Studio Dandelion 11:00 - 13:00 GMT In this wintery workshop, you will create a full and spectacular wreath to adorn your door throughout the final months of the year. This is a space for individual and collective creativity. Over two hours, you will be guided in designing and decorating a sustainably sourced moss and wired wreath base with sumptuous pines, seasonal foliage, gestural dried branches, delightful dried botanicals, and rich velvet ribbons. -Mini Pająki Workshop with Karolina Merska 14:00 - 16:00 GMT Join a unique workshop with Karolina Merska. Inspired by traditional Polish Christmas ornaments, Karolina will teach you how to make a Mini Pająki decoration using rye straw, various beads and ribbons. -Straw Star Workshop with Ruby Taylor of Native Hands 14:00 - 16:00 GMT Make a large, folk art-inspired star from the English Rush. These beauties are big enough to hang on your door as a gorgeous alternative to a wreath. They’re also perfect as a wall decoration if you prefer. For more details, please check https://lnkd.in/eB3z_fAG

Contemporary Hempery "Retaining our rural and maritime skills has always been considered important in a historical context; however, reverting to and developing skills in the production and use of natural fibres could be the best solution to reducing plastic at sea,” says Simon Cooper, of Flaxland, based in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Cooper is developing flax fishing nets that utilise traditional techniques. The products of his labour will be displayed the Clovelly Herring Festival. He considers flax to be “a crop which transcends time, nations, and cultures and is set for a renaissance as the world seeks to adjust our creative and industrial endeavors to rediscover the benefits of natural homegrown fibres.” ••• The Clovelly Herring Festival, 17 November, clovelly.co.uk https://lnkd.in/gmrdshVy @contemporaryhempery Find this article on Selvedge issue 120, Carpet Magic. image: “Picarooner,” a traditional boat of the North Devon village of Clovelly. Sailed by Mike Smylie, aka the “Kipperman.” / Image courtesy of Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Flaxland.

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to meet Karolina Merska at our Meet the Maker event on Sunday, 27 October at 15:00 GMT. For just £5, you’ll gain personal insights into her craft, engage in a lively Q&A session, and connect with our vibrant textile community. Secure your spot today! Bookings can be made up to 5 minutes before the event” - Book your tickets on our website https://lnkd.in/ge-DMudK