Image: Carla Fernandez Vestido Xilonen.

During the Selvedge World Fair (3 – 5 September) we will be hosting talks live on IGTV, on our Instagram feed. These interviews are free for anyone to watch, you just need to visit us on Instagram. The first talks confirmed are with sustainable fashion designers Carla Fernandez (Mexico), Muhayo Alieva of Bibi Hanum (Uzbekistan) and Santandu Dass of Maku (India) talking about how they work with artisans to produce their collections. Times for the interviews will be announced with the full programme soon.

Carla Fernandez (Mexico)

Carla Fernández is a Mexican fashion label dedicated to preserving and revitalising the textile legacy of the indigenous communities of Mexico. Traditionally, Mexican indigenous garments are made from hand woven squares and rectangles. These geometric pieces are folded and pleated to be transformed into clothes that take their own volume and form. Even though many countries have the same geometrical basis for their traditional clothing, Mexican pattern-making is still quite unique. Carla Fernández uses this textile origami to make contemporary clothing that is also reminiscent of ancient customs and traditions.

Bibi Hanum (Uzbekistan)

Bibi Hanum is a socially responsible enterprise that creates garments and accessories using traditional hand-woven silk cotton ikat fiber. Founded by Muhayo Alieva its mission is to provide economic opportunities for women while preserving Uzbekistan’s rich cultural and ethnographic heritage. Since its creation in 2006 Bibi Hanum has been able to provide work for many women who live in Tashkent, Ferghana Valley and the Navoi Region. The clothes are designed incorporating traditional crafts of Uzbek artisans such as suzann embroiderers and silk weavers.

Maku (India)

Maku is an Indian label that strives to safeguard local diversity, historic textile practices and craft knowledge. Maku was founded by Santanu Das in 2011 after working at a wall cover design company in New York. There, he began to look for an alternative meaning of luxury in the form of indigenous craft. There are now 100 weavers working for Santanu. Drawing on their knowledge he makes jamdani fabrics, keeping the craft alive and believing that as India’s textile traditions disappear, with them may vanish family histories preserved in the fabrics.

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IGTV interviews are free to view. Buy your ticket to Selvedge World Fair to have access to shopping - including garments from the designers featured - more talks, exclusive articles and more.