Last chance for World Fair entries
All images courtesy of Selvedge World Fair 2020 exhibitors. Above, Blaudruck, Karl and Maria Wagner, Austria
Applications to exhibit at the virtual Selvedge World Fair 2021 close in just over two weeks, on 15 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 aim to bring the pages of the magazine alive. In 2021 the event will take place online over five days: 31 August - 4 September.
Image: Kyrgyzstan, Dinara Chochunbaeva, Central Asia Crafts Support Association's Resource Center
Textiles form an important part of the cultural heritage of every human being in the plant – the World Fair aims to celebrate textile traditions from at least fifty countries and to highlight innovative alternatives to the destruction caused by the global textile industry. 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: Anda Ene, Romanian Embroidered Blouses
Selections for this year's fair 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 and craftsmanship. Sustainability - is the product environmentally and economically sustainable?
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, please visit Selvedge World Fair 2021 Applications.