COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION
Are there past issues of Selvedge you wish you had in your collection? If so, you're in luck as you can now receive 25% off all our back issues when you buy six or more.
Selvedge Magazine is 105 issues young and we're still going strong! Who knew there was so much to talk about in the world of textiles? (We did of course...) However, with 104 possible magazines to choose from, we've curated some of our back issues into content collections to help you find what you're looking for. Keep your eyes peeled for more selections over the coming weeks of our sale.
Use the code JANUARYSALE22 at checkout to redeem this offer.
The Knitting Collection
The flow of people and ideas from east to west has been a dominant force since the silk routes were established around 130 BC. All too often dismissed by the west we have much to learn from looking east to the seat of civilisation. In this issue Emily Lush explores the Caucuses, a conduit of the fabled silk routes that for centuries served as the physical and ideological bridge between east and west.
As well as traditional floral crowns of Ukraine and the stylish images of Chinese photographer Kiki Xue, we track the generations of refugees, including Sigmund Freud, who have migrated from the east bringing with them textile traditions that have enriched and enlivened our own history. We also look afresh at China and see what recent in-roads are being made to reinvent the label of Made in China with an ethical stance.
Should we artificially keep alive crafts that are no longer economically viable? Hand-stitched crickets ball manufacturing to wooden lacrosse stick making, in this issue we explore the Radcliffe red list, the list which identifies which crafts are viable, endangered, critically endangered and extinct in the UK. It begs the question, is intangible heritage as valuable as tangible heritage?
Also in this issue we explore the surprising role of basket making in the rehabilitation of wounded and shell-shocked soldiers and the link between health and craft skills as we experience a resurgence of interest in skill acquisition.
What is it about thread that is so appealing? Within contemporary society there is a hunger for sensual experiences that can only be satisfied by handle and texture. We are surrounded by smooth surfaces, from screens to kitchen counters, floors and cars. Clothing is increasingly constructed from a narrow range of nylon and cotton fibre – while appealing to the eye, these leave the hand starved of stimulus.
In this issue we celebrate surface in all its forms; from Anni Albers’ textural weaving, Jane and Mary Parminter’s shell gallery, to Liciê Hunsche’s work with the fleece of Karakul sheep.
Claudy Jongstra’s spongy felts, Hildur Bjarnadóttir’s delicate sheers, Nicola Kilmartin’s fulled tweeds and the vintage satin and lace Julia Craig fashions into contemporary garments, are all able to satisfy the hand as well as the eye.
Image: The Ros Tapestry
‘Go West, young man’ is a phrase often credited to the American author and newspaper editor Horace Greeley concerning America's expansion westward. No one has yet proven who first used this phrase in print, but it certainly captures the independent, free thinking, adventurous lives of Heidi Bjørnsdotter Thorvik from Norway, and Nicola Kilmartin in the Falkland Islands who share a desire to create beauty from meagre, locally available natural resources.
Unfortunately, a hunger for wealth and adventure has historically resulted in a disregard for indiginous peoples. In this issue we explore attempts to bring attention to the value of indigenous cultures, including the remarkable printed textiles produced in the 1950-60s at the Kinngait Studios, on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada and, more recently, the adaptation of the Cowichan sweater and their confirmation as national symbol when worn by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Likewise, we are gratified by the examples of cultural heritage that are alive and well today, such as the handknit gloves from Sanquhar Dumfries and Galloway, or the Irish aran sweater, that have travelled the world and gained favour with Hollywood stars and the political elite. Finally, in this issue we explore the needle as a narrative tool, telling the story of the Glasgow Girls, Ireland’s Ros tapestry, and the camaraderie of stitching in Tracey Chevalier’s new novel A Single Thread.
If you are spring cleaning your wardrobe, think twice before you replace last seasons sweaters and buy a darning mushroom instead...
In this issue we celebrate the art of repair at the De Wit Royal Manufacturers in Belgium and in Hikaru Noguchi’s guide to visible darning. We marvel at the ingenious new garments brought to life from precious old fabrics by Walid al Damirji and Maria speak shows us how to decorate using vintage fabrics. We are introduced to ‘no waste’ manufacturing by Christina Kim and innovative ways of extending the life of garments returned to her stores by Eileen Fisher, including the towering artworks created by Derick Melander.
Image: Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony
From the patriotic outfits of athletes at the Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony, to a different approach to school uniforms, this issue invites you to pick smart or casual—you can't have it both ways!
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This offer will end on 31 January 2022. Use the code JANUARYSALE22 at checkout to redeem this offer.
View the Costume Collection from our blog post last week.