Issue 68 Carnival - currently only available as a digital copy
Selvedge Magazine
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Please note Issue 68 is now only available as a digital copy, there are no print copies available at this current time.
January/February 2016
I AM OFTEN ASKED WHERE I GET THE IDEAS FROM FOR EACH ISSUE. In the words of Sir Paul Smith: “You Can Find Inspiration in Everything – And If You Can't, Look Again.” That is true: in this instance my inspiration came from Penny our events organiser. She took a sabatical in the summer to travel in Colombia – I am inspired by her courage and by the stories she has told of her adventures. Then Nelson Sepulveda, a talented stylist, spoke to me with such passion of his native Chile and of the designers Valentina Hoyos and Veronique Rolland Valdes – who are working with indigenous people in South America to create socially responsible textiles – and the Carnival Issue seemed inevitable. While curating the magazine my journey of discovery introduces me to many sources of inspiration. This is as likely to come from another time as it is another place. Dani Trew comments on the designers working today who have taken inspiration from the political landscape of the 1970s, as well as its craft aesthetic. We are introduced to contemporary artists making statements with crochet, the most flexible of textile techniques. The texture and sculptural qualities of crochet are also evident on the runway in the work of Helen Rödel and Kate Jenkins.
A mountain of alpaca blankets! They must be only in black or white or possibly a salt & pepper mix. They come from Chile or Bolivia and I spread them everywhere; my bed, my sofa... I love being at home in winter. When I am out I wear a big cashmere shawl from India or Nepal, wool knitted sweaters and socks; all natural dye only. And on top it is always either a felted chechia from Tunisia or a simple black beret from Basque, Spain.
My study at home is north facing so it can get pretty cold in winter. To keep off the chill I pull on my all-encompassing camel-coloured cashmere djellaba haggled for in the souk in Marrakech, Morocco. At least, I did until I recently gave in and bought the ubiquitous Uniqlo lightweight down jacket. It is so neat and easy to wear it’s unbeatable at keeping me snug. It also makes the perfect travelling companion as it packs up into a tiny ball that fits in my handbag. I never leave home without it.
So as the year turns I resolve to walk the Inca trail from Cuzco to the ruins at Machu Picchu, following in the footsteps of Annie Zander who tells the story of how she turned her inspiration into a thriving business, Peruvian Connections, twenty-five years ago. Make our stories part of your story in 2016: and whether you are inspired to bake a cake, take a craft holiday or design a range of rugs, post your pictures on instagram using the hashtag selvedgestories.
Polly Leonard, Founder
Tallenna
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A truly enjoyable read
This magazine is a joy to read on every level. It is well researched, interesting and beautifully written. It cleverly connects the distant past with cutting edge current practice and has inspired me to learn more about both. Now I want to read more!
Visually very satisfying and intellectually stimulating
I always find Selvedge Magazine visually very satisfying and intellectually stimulating. I have all the issues in my library and will have to find a good institution to donate then to when the time comes. I remember getting issue 00 at some conference or meeting in the US when you were first starting out. Bravo again for so many years of sharing the joy of textiles in all its varied forms with all of us.
Congratulations on your vision!
I’ve just been looking up your magazine, and absolutely love it! It seems like it knits together all the slices of delight that are left over in our soul when we are spent with our daily survival transactions…..congratulations on your vision!
Inspirational, Cultural, Educational
I am intriqued -- every issue of Selvedge. I am inspired toward my own work as an artist, as a weaver, as a designer, as a student of global artistry. Forever indebted.
Absolutely gobsmackingly gorgeous
I was expecting something nice, but I was in no way prepared for how absolutely gobsmackingly gorgeous and inspiring your magazine is. Wow and wow. Now I’m counting the minutes until my next paper copy arrives.


