Issue 12 Voyage

July/August 2006

Patterns of the world

"THE THRILL OF A HOLIDAY never fails to excite. Some people spend most of the year in anticipation of those treasured moments in exotic climes, but I’ve always prefered a more spontaneous approach. Perhaps my finest moment was, at age 16, waiting for a bus in the small village where I grew up: a family friend passed by, and seeing my tiny bag cheerfully enquired if I was on my way to town. "No, Morocco!” I replied, relishing a frisson of rebellion at her reaction. Recent trips may be luggageladen family holidays, but there is always something magical about a moment of departure – although one has to admit it can be hard to feel the joy during the undignified scrum to find a seat on a Ryanair jet. It’s a far cry from the golden age of flight, when stewardesses wore chic mini dresses designed by Mary Quant and nothing was too much trouble. Air travel may be cheap but the cost to the enviroment is high: maybe it’s time to return to the glamour of the ocean-going liner?

Of course, getting there is only half the ‘fun’ – your destination is important too. We visit some exotic locations in this issue, including Hawaii where Christina Kim, pg 16 found a resonance with her glowing fabrics and Doris Duke built a retreat called Shangri-La to house her stunning collection of Suzanis. Finally, the aloha shirt is often mocked, but there is more to the textile heritage of Hawaii than Elvis.

Not content with telling us what to wear on our summer holiday, fashion designers now want to dictate where we stay and after Emma O'Kelly’s tour of their unbearably glamorous boutique hotels you will probably be willing to do as you’re told.

Textile designer Peggy Angus was one of life’s natural rebels. She traveled the world throughout her life and shared her inspiration in the form of public artworks in schools and hospitals. At this time of year it is traditional for us to look at education. We discover how hard students are finding it to survive after graduation and round up some unusual art schools that might give students the edge in a highly competitive world. You don’t always have to go far to find inspiration: the prints of Swedish designer Maria Astrom, are the result of finding in nature a microcosm of the whole world. So wherever you are this summer, have a wonderful time."

Polly Leonard, Founder, Selvedge Magazine