Multitude of Textiles under one roof
The Textile Society Antique and Vintage Textile Fair is not just about buying and selling. You can speak to experts, collectors, gain advice and insights into cultural histories from all around the world. There are personal stories and histories embedded within the costume and textiles that are brought to the textile Fair. Many of our dealers started out selling personal collections or downsizing. Virginia di Santo had the formidable task of selling the full contents of her mum's large family house. Her mother was born in the early 1900s (living till 103) and was a self-employed dressmaker from the 1930s up to the 70s. She was an extrovert and a fashion queen, loving her hats, furs and outfits. Fortunately she was a consistent hoarder and kept everything! Virginia has found cupboards full of 1960s textiles alongside a vast amount of dressmaking fabric, bright & coloured silks, chiffons, linens and wool. She will be bringing these items to the Manchester Fair on Sunday 23rd April.
Mid-century textiles are highly collectable and we have a number of specialist dealers attending the Fair in April including Retropattern who also give lectures sharing their expertise on fabrics and the culture of the 1950s. They will bring Vintage mid-century textiles; Heals, Liberty, David Whitehead, Hull Trader's, Artist Textiles. See them on stands 69 and 70.
Festival of Pattern https://festivalofpattern.wordpress.com/about/ Is run by Christine Boydell whose wealth of experience is informed by over thirty years teaching design history in various higher education institutions. She will be bringing a range of 20th Century Textiles especially from the period 1930-1960. You will find her on stand 48.
Continuing the vintage theme, you will find Vintage Emporium Limited (Vintage Keeley) on stands 90 to 92 specialising in Vintage Fashion &Textiles from the 1920s to the 1970s
You will find a broad range costume, of fashion, and textiles from the early 17th to the 1970s As well as useful practical pieces for the home or fashion they all mark a special piece of history and connect to past lives and personal stories. They not only inspire the future but preserve the past. This is further demonstrated on the first floor where you will meet recipients of the Textile Society Student Bursary Awards, the designers and innovators of the future alongside members of Guilds, Museums and Archives who will demonstrate how they are preserving and conserving traditional techniques for new generations of designers and makers.
Debra Roberts