Final Call for the Fair
All images courtesy of Selvedge World Fair 2020 exhibitors. Above, Fundación Artesanías de Chile.
The deadline for applying to exhibit at the virtual Selvedge World Fair 2021 closes mid-February. Nurturing the designers and makers who inspire us is crucial to the Selvedge ethos – they are as much a part of our story as we are theirs, and with this event we are bringing the pages of the magazine alive. In 2021 the event will take place over five days: 31 August - 4 September. Textile traditions from at least fifty countries will be represented. Activities will include virtual workshops, talks and panel discussions. As a maker, it is free to apply, and if you are selected, free to take part in. As well as taking part in the event, there’s an opportunity to sell to the Selvedge audience throughout the year in the Selvedge Artisan Goods store.
Image: Tentmakers of Cairo, Egypt.
2021 selections will be made by six separate independent panels grouped according to continent, with an additional category of cross-cultural collaborations - for work produced as a result of a collaboration between two or more individuals from different geographic regions. All the selectors are specialists in their fields. They will independently scrutinise every entry against the following criteria: Cultural authenticity. Does the work connect to the cultural heritage of the maker's home country or countries? Does it represent the diversity of handmade textile production around the world? Quality of design. What is the quality of colour used, the composition, shape and form? Quality of craftsmanship. Hand skills and mastery of technique. Sustainability. Is the product environmentally and economically sustainable?
Image: Anna-Karin Jobs Arnberg (c) Lena Katarina Johansson.
We warmly encourage anyone who makes handmade textiles to apply. For inspiration, take a look at the exhibitors from Selvedge World Fair 2020.
For more information and to apply visit Selvedge World Fair 2021 Apply.