Textile Art and Architecture: a short comment

The term "Textile Art" or "Textile Arts" is rather difficult to define. Is it craft or fine art? Is it necessary to always have a functional aspect or not? Is it about surface or three-dimensional objects? However the word "textile" suggests clearly specifics materials, such as fibers and fabrics and techniques such as knitting, weaving, stitching and sewing. 

But, textile art is not only materials and techniques and in that sense it resembles to the practice of architecture, where materials and construction techniques are combined to create space. So, both architecture and textiles are an amalgam of materials, techniques, design and spirit.

There is also a large area where textile art meets architecture, especially when architecture embraces the qualities of textiles to create flexible shelters and tents. 

A Nez Perce tent 

      

Bedlinen by Ashley Wilde group and Zandra Rhodes

Iconic fashion designer Zandra Rhodes has been involved with many collaborations across many of the continents: UK, USA, Australia and India. Her bold, innovative way of seeing patterns has enabled her to translate her designs very individually onto licenced products of very diverse fields. Zandra Rhodes' inimitable and powerful prints can transform lifestyle products, like duvets and pillowcases into unique art objects.

John Robshaw: A textile designer that draws inspiration from local artisans all over the world.

John Robshaw is one of the most fascinating textile designers that uses excessively the "block printing" technique to make patterned fabrics. John Robshaw earned a fine arts degree at Pratt. However the true exploration on the world of textiles began when the designer started to travel, first in Asia and then in other parts of the world, in order to meet local artisans and learn their fabric-making traditions. 

Printed on pure cotton percale / Image source

Hand embroidered placemats

• A set of placemats by Banarsi designs. The placemats feature a hand-embroidered stonework circle in the upper left hand corner. 

Doodle stitching

A doodle is an unconscious drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes. Lately, a similar technique is used by embroiderers in order to create unexpected motifs and larger compositions, often using leftover threads and fabric scraps.

• Neon Doodle Embroidery Super Kicks by Dream A little Bigger. A great idea that will give unique character to your shoes. 

Hand embroidery on burlap

Rug making on burlap/ image: Wikipedia.org

Burlap, it is also called hessian cloth or sack fabric, is an evenweave fabric with a rustic, warm and natural look. It is usually made from skin of the jute plant or sisal fibres and used to make sacks and bags.

Although, hessian has been historically produced as a coarse fabric, today it is also used as an eco-friendly material for bags, rugs, cushions, place mats, table runners and other products. 

The texture, color and especially the contrast between the raw surface and the delicate embroidery are only some of the features that have inspired many contemporary embroiderers.