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Live and Recorded talks relating to:

Fabrics and Fashion

  • Weaving innovations and political entanglements
    Weaving innovations and political entanglements
    Weaving innovations and political entanglements
    This talk by Sophie coincides with Unravel: The Power & Politics of Textiles in Art, 14/2 -26/5/24, Barbican, and will cover the plasticity and transformative potential of textiles as forces of resistance and healing! more info below
  • The textiles of Paracas: a wonder in wool
    The textiles of Paracas: a wonder in wool
    The textiles of Paracas: a wonder in wool
    The embroidered mantles of Paracas are known as some of the finest ever produced by Pre-Columbian societies. Please join Maria as she explains the wonderful stories surrounding these textiles. more info below.
  • Little Luxuries: 18th century English Ceramics
    Little Luxuries: 18th century English Ceramics
    Little Luxuries: 18th century English Ceramics
    This week Hattie will show us the wonderful variety of ceramics produced in 18th century England: From Chelsea to Wedgewood!
  • Little Luxuries: 18th century Parisian Shopping
    Little Luxuries: 18th century Parisian Shopping
    Little Luxuries: 18th century Parisian Shopping
    The Marchand Merciers of Paris provided the wealthy aristocrats of France with luxury goods. From small shops merchants sold exquisite & costly objects often imported from Asia but given a distinct French taste. We'll discuss the importance of women patrons like Mm de Pompadour & Marie Antoinette.
  • Women’s work: lace, prints and painting in 16th century Europe
    Women’s work: lace, prints and painting in 16th century Europe
    Women’s work: lace, prints and painting in 16th century Europe
    This is the story of 1 of the most influential designers of 16th century Europe: Isabella Parasole. Her drawings contributed to scientific knowledge; her printmaking was famed & her lace designs shaped European fashion. more info below
  • Art embroidery, the Royal School of Needlework and the Arts and Crafts movement
    Art embroidery, the Royal School of Needlework and the Arts and Crafts movement
    Art embroidery, the Royal School of Needlework and the Arts and Crafts movement
    During much of the 19th century embroidery were big blousy flowers often on dark backgrounds. That all changed with the starting of the RSN and their engagement with the leaders of the Arts & Crafts movement to create Art Embroidery. More info below.
  • Stories in Wool, Silk and Gold: 500 years of Tapestry
    Stories in Wool, Silk and Gold: 500 years of Tapestry
    Stories in Wool, Silk and Gold: 500 years of Tapestry
    Dr Susan Kay-Williams is back to talk about the making of tapestries and how their subject matter, artistry and methodology has changed, from the Lady and the Unicorn to Grayson Perry.
  • Poison, Poo and Mad Scientists
    Poison, Poo and Mad Scientists
    Poison, Poo and Mad Scientists
    The social history of colour in textiles from the 19th to 21st centuries. This lecture explores how colour was a global industry by the 19th century, the birth of the new power colours and how dyeing has changed to meet the needs of fashion.
  • Frida Kahlo: Identity and Political Commitment
    Frida Kahlo: Identity and Political Commitment
    Frida Kahlo: Identity and Political Commitment
    Frida's genes were half German & half Mexican. She could be considered a “mestiza”. Very proud of both her ancestries, as we can appreciate in her paintings, we'll go through her life from the point of view of her strong relationship with politics and Mexican traditions.
  • Opus Anglicanum to the stitching by Tudor Queens
    Opus Anglicanum to the stitching by Tudor Queens
    Opus Anglicanum to the stitching by Tudor Queens
    This lecture will begin with some of the most famous examples of Han embroidery, like the Bayeux Tapestry, before focusing on 1 of the high points of English embroidery, Opus Anglicanum, and the development of embroidery as a pastime. More info below.
  • “Robes of Honour”: The Decorative Arts of Luxury Silk-weaving in the Islamic World
    “Robes of Honour”: The Decorative Arts of Luxury Silk-weaving in the Islamic World
    “Robes of Honour”: The Decorative Arts of Luxury Silk-weaving in the Islamic World
    Sericulture & Silk-weaving was introduced in the Middle & Near East as early as the 6th c. C.E. via trade links between Central Asia & China. This lecture will look at the development under Islamic dynasties, and how Mediterranean trade shaped European tastes and inspired new silk weaving centres.
  • Art & History of Indian Painted Cottons and their impact on World Trade
    Art & History of Indian Painted Cottons and their impact on World Trade
    Art & History of Indian Painted Cottons and their impact on World Trade
    Anita will be looking at the Decorative Arts of Painted Cotton, and their development in India, their impact on taste and fashion in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, and how this fuelled manufacture for the mass market.
  • Imperial Purple to Marie Antoinette’s fleas
    Imperial Purple to Marie Antoinette’s fleas
    Imperial Purple to Marie Antoinette’s fleas
    The social history of colour in textiles from BC to the end of the 18th century. This lecture shows the developing skills of the dyers to meet the desires of their customers, how they learned to colour different materials and how fashionable colours emerged from the most unlikely sources.
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