Adire, a traditional indigo-dyed cloth from Nigeria’s Yoruba people, embodies stories through its intricate patterns. Emerging from early 20th century Abeokuta, Adire is a female-led craft linking heritage to modern expression. Sustainable and tactile, its designs encapsulate cultural identity, with contemporary artists revitalising this timeless textile tradition.… Read More Adire: Indigo’s Stories From West Africa
Shibori is a Japanese resist dyeing technique emphasising a dialogue between fabric and intention, dating back over 1,300 years. Historically linked to kimono making, it transforms textiles through methods like tie-dye and binding. Shibori embodies wabi-sabi values, promoting sustainability and contemporary artistic revival while fostering a mindful approach to design.… Read More Shibori: The Language of Folded Cloth
The language of design transcends functionality, embodying identity and community through textiles and architecture. From the symbolism of flags to biophilic principles, design fosters connection and care. It emphasises balance, harmony, and the relationship between materials and human experience, reflecting our shared stories and emotions in every stitch and structure.… Read More Episode Five: Woven Worlds Textiles, Space, & The Design of Meaning
In every culture, cloth has done more than cover the body—it has held grief, carried prayers, mapped escape routes, and wrapped the sick in hope. In my last post, I explored how textiles have long been vessels of memory and healing. Now I find myself asking: what can we learn from this legacy? And how… Read More Threads We Carry: Making Textiles for Memory & Healing
Slow textile practices like mending, dyeing, and patchwork are ways to resist a culture of disposability, transforming waste into emotional connections and stories. This approach honors imperfections, creating relationships between materials and memories, fostering emotional sustainability. By reshaping discarded textiles, these rituals of repair celebrate the beauty in flaws and reflect a deeper value in craft.… Read More stitching sustainability: how textile practice can reclaim waste
Sashiko is more than technique — it’s a quiet choreography of care. Once a rural necessity, now a poetic practice, sashiko invites us to stitch not just cloth, but time, memory, and meaning. This guide offers deeper insight into motif symbolism, regional styles, and creative adaptation — all while honouring sashiko’s roots in resilience and… Read More advanced sashiko: stitching time, memory & meaning
Few colours carry as much history and cultural weight as indigo blue. Known for its deep, vibrant hue and enduring beauty, indigo dyeing has been practiced for thousands of years across cultures from West Africa to Japan, India, and beyond. Today, it remains both a craft and a cultural symbol. A Brief History The Science… Read More indigo dyeing: the ancient art of blue
Image Credit: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash “Flags are not just symbols—they are textiles of memory. Woven, stitched, dyed, and flown, they carry the weight of collective identity and the quiet resonance of personal meaning. For nations, flags declare sovereignty. For communities, they signal solidarity. For individuals, they often evoke longing, pride, or protest.”… Read More flags: textiles of memory, Identity & contested meaning
Image credit: Claire Gaffney via Unsplash In Japanese, the word boro (ぼろ) literally means “tattered” or “ragged.” Yet in the world of textiles, boro has become a symbol of endurance, resourcefulness, and beauty born from necessity. What is Boro? Boro refers to cloth that has been patched and re-patched over generations. Traditionally, families in rural… Read More the beauty of boro: japan’s tradition of visible mending
See image credits (below) In an age of fast fashion and disposable goods, slow stitching offers an antidote—a practice rooted in care, patience, and sustainability. At its heart, slow stitching is more than just thread on fabric; it’s about valuing time, honouring materials, and creating something that carries meaning beyond its stitches. What Is Slow… Read More slow stitching: sustainability through needle & thread
Rachel Bakewell 