Praised by Vogue for having "revolutionised traditional English fabrics to win them new recognition abroad" the Serbian born Bernat Klein played a huge part in reviving Scotland's weaving and cloth making industries after the war. Klein's approach to colour meant that his tapestries, tweeds and paintings stood out from the 'earthy colour schemes of the 1950s' and were soon picked up on by fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.
“In the mornings I would show my scarves to Woolworths and, later, mohair stoles to Marks & Spencer; then in the afternoon I would meet Yves St Laurent or Pierre Cardin to show my exclusive new textile designs. It was a most unusual way of doing business.” Klein's approach to both trade and design influenced the way in which textiles were made and bought, particularly in post war Britain, enormously.
Dovecot Gallery's retrospective may be the last time that such a huge range of his work will be displayed together - it spans five decades and includes tapestries made with Dovecot in the 1970s.
Read about Klein and the exhibition in the next issue of Selvedge magazine.
Images courtesy of Dovecot Gallery, photo credit Stuart Armitt.
July 31 - September 26
www.dovecotstudios.com
love the colors and designs