Garden Of Eden
by Polly Leonard
Now that sunnier weather is here, summer suddenly doesn't seem so far away. And this summer, there's a lot to look forward to, including the biannual European Textile Network event taking place in Haslach, Austria in July.
This year's theme is 'Garden of Eden', which links a wide range of cultural and historical themes with questions of today. The ETN is an international organisation that promotes exchange between nations, strengthening European community spirit through textiles. This 19th ETN Conference will take place from 28th until 21st July, at the Textile Centre Haslach, a multifunctional place in the north of Austria, where museum, education and production meet under the roof of an old textile mill. Haslach is a traditional linen weavers´ village that hosts an international textile symposium called Textile Kultur Haslach every year. The 2019 ETN conference will be embedded in this event, which includes many workshops, exhibitions and a weavers market.
The theme, 'Garden of Eden' evokes ideas of people living in harmony with nature, cautiously using existing resources and living peacefully. This utopia, this place where beauty and life thrive speaks to a human desire for community and rich sensory experience. This idea is thousands of years old and provides an interesting starting point to discussions about sustainability, preservation, traditional skills and values and so much more. All of these subjects are increasingly relevant to textile industries and are worth exploring in depth. The ETN conference provides such an opportunity and is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in textiles or textile heritage.
Blog post by Jessica Edney