A pictorial miscellany of The Slow Textiles Group workshops, work processes, inspiration, dialogues, creations and outputs.
hi@slowstudio.co.uk
Erik Madigan Heck for Mary Katrantzou
hi@slowstudio.co.uk Written and compiled by The Slow Studio, Unit 47, 110-116 Kingsgate Road, London NW6 2JG, UK
LOOK BOOK 1
Participatory design is about a shift in emphasis away from control. It is part of a different world view, where power distributions are changed, where there is greater transparency of the design and production process and where ideas about design, work and production are altered. Here we are interested in the transformative act of change that furnishes us with skills, products, relationships and experiences that allow us to become better engaged with ourselves, each other and the material world. Kate Fletcher, 2008 2
The Slow Textiles Group and the Slow Design School offer monthly workshops, lectures, seminars, webinars, discussion groups and book and stitch clubs that have sustainable design, interconnected thinking and innovation at heart. Participants come from all backgrounds for as many different reasons. The result? Personal insight, professional development, group identity, profile development, employment, exhibition, publication, expression, press and much more. 3
Work that software!
Attend our workshops and work with the group to transform your designs into pioneering cultural artefacts. Check the lectures+workshops page on the blog for upcoming dates and future tutorials and downloads.
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Don’t just Pinterest other folk’s sources, create your own, original image libraries and decorative motif image banks with us! Attend our hands-on workshops to learn how!
Geraldine Peclard
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This textile print for silk is co-designed by Geraldine Peclard, Melanie Bowles and Julie Behseta created in tandem with The Slow Textiles Group, the V&A and The People’s Print. Co-design is exclusive to our work with The People’s Print where you can learn how to create collective design identities for your communities. The People’s Print courses are very popular and at present they run just twice a year: sign up on the facebook page to learn of the next one or visit: www.thepeoplesprint.blogspot.com
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Here are some of the dresses we created at the V&A during the Postmodernism, Style & Subversion, 1970 - 1989 exhibition. 7
We often start our workshops with simple, hands-on techniques such as collage, painting, tracing and colouring in. Beginning with the hand is the best way to begin the emotional, cognitive and expressive ‘slow’ processes. 8
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In all our Postmodernist Textiles’ workshops, in celebration of the Postmodernism exhibition at the V&A (London, 2011-2) , we looked at the Memphis group’s shapes from 1980s Italian plastic laminate to get us started! These were then reinterpreted and translated into simple graphic motifs. 10
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We offer great tutorials with The People’s Print at the V&A showing you how to use your digital skills intuitively. For details, please email thepeople@thepeoplesprint.com 12
Melanie Bowles
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This fabric sample, co-designed by Julie Behseta and Melanie Bowles, illustrates some of the co-design methodologies that we work with. Co-design methodologies enable communities to develop collective identities. Our research is leading the way in this field. For further information, please email thepeople@thepeoplesprint.com
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This silk sample is designed by South African designer Alice Joubert created in tandem with the Slow Textiles Group, the V&A and The People’s Print.
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Why not attend our Slow Design School lectures, seminars and film showings on the latest sustainable design developments, co-design theories and methodologies?
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This print sample is an experiment in co-design by Geraldine Peclard, Julie Behseta and Melanie Bowles.
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Inspirational stitch from the Slow Textiles Group Les Ballets Russes workshop! This embroidered wool and nylon piece is by the exciting British textile designer, Amanda Goode: www.good-amanda.blogspot.com/
Amanda attended our workshops at the V&A (in 2010) in tandem with the exhibition, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes, 1909-1929. The theme of the workshops, in part, was the theatre sets and costumes of Russian painter, Natalia Goncharova (1881 - 1962). 18
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Inspirational Greek embroidery! Why not join the Slow Design School to attend the inspiring and mind expanding Book and Stitch clubs (and get those theta waves flowing)! 20
Dr Emma Neuberg spent her childhood in Greece so there are several stitch workshops that she runs addressing different regional styles. Please email hi@slowstudio.co.uk for details. Also, we are looking for embroiderers to join the Slow Textiles Group so please email examples of your work to hi@slowstudio.co.uk if you’re interested in joining an exciting international design group. 21
Inspirational weave!
The next two woven samples are designed and made by British designer Anna Maybury. Inspired by the work of Peruvian weavers they communicate a vibrancy and joy, rich and vital. We are looking for inspired weavers to join the group, so please email examples of your work to hi@slowstudio.co.uk if that’s you!
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Anna Maybury 23
We run themed stitch seminars at the Slow Design School. These samplers were made by British textile artist Hannah Lamb at one of the Japanese stitch workshops. We often use these seminars for group reflection and discussion. 24
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These students are working on drawing each other in silk! 26
This group is working on 3D patchwork.
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Designer Jessica Ogden was one of the first to upcycle fabrics in her collections during the early noughties. Join the Slow Design School to learn how. 28
Inspirational knit and crochet from Steinum, Clare Tough and a student from the Polimoda fashion school in Florence featured here: www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2012/01/come-down-the-rabbit-hole.html
In fact, the Slow Textiles Group is looking for more knitters, so please email examples of your work to hi@slowstudio.co.uk if that’s you!
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We have a collection of vintage textiles that we use for reference and inspiration at the Slow Textiles Group workshops. This British Suffolk puff quilt is from the 1930s. At 3m by 3m, there are a lot of puffs!
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Full on, blousy blooms from British fashion duo Basso&Brooke!
Look out for The People’s Print The Great British Floral digital print workshops and e-books: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Peoples-Print/171249936256137
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A paper-cutouts workshop inspired by Sweden’s snickargladje, meaning carpenter’s happiness, and Polish papercutouts, 2010. 32
Some of our workshops are about the simple, old-fashioned pleasure of looking, drawing and painting on paper! 33
All our workshops are about sharing skills to inspire you and set you up for play!
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We translate papercutouts into vector patterns! Vector drawing is often covered in our workshops. The next one is 19th May 2012 (code W25). Please go to lectures+workshops on the blog for further details. 35
Russian, Finnish and Swedish folkart inspiration from the turn of the nineteenth century for our appliquĂŠ workshops. 36
Les Ballets Russes references, including some lubok or Russian popular print, for our Natalia Goncharova workshop. 37
THE SLOW TEXTILES MARTIN MARGIELA PROJECT! Some Cubo Futurist painting in preparation for a Martin Margiela open source dress project.
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British fashion visionnaire, Rosie Martin of DIYcouture prepares her Cubo Futurist painting inspired by turn-of-the-last-century artists such as Vladimir Baranov Rossine (1888-1944).
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Rosie then reworks her painting digitally.
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She then develops several more and adds them to her new collection, making it the DIYcouture Slow Textiles Group Martin Margiela Project! Visit www.diy-couture.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-digital-print-design.html
for more images.
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Join us for the POP ART GEOMETRICS hands-on workshop (code W26, July 14th 2012) - or download it after the event to work with us on developing the Slow Textiles Martin Margiela Project for exhibition! 42
Talented British textile designer, Samantha Warren, experiments with her Cubo Futuristinspired shapes for pattern generation.. 43
She then plays around with the patterns and applies them to her dresses before printing the fabric. This experimental open source work will culminate in an international show in 2013. You need to be a member of the Slow Textiles Group to participate!
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Why not attend (or download after the event) TRANSFORM TEXTILES INTO SHORT FILMS a hands-on workshop (code W27, November 3rd 2012) to add your own work to THE SLOW TEXTILES MARTIN MARGIELA PROJECT 2013! We’ll show you how. 45
POP ART PATCHWORK!
Enjoy the POP ART GEOMETRICS hands-on workshop (code W26, July 14th 2012) to work with us on developing Pop Art Patchwork themes for exhibition. 46
BRICOLAGE SURREALISM. Enjoy the FAST/SLOW ORGANIC GEOMETRICS (code W25, May 19th 2012), POP ART GEOMETRICS workshop (code W26, July 14th 2012) and TRANSFORM TEXTILES INTO SHORT FILMS (code W27, November 3rd 2012) to work with us on developing BRICOLAGE SURREALISM collections for global exhibition in 2013-4. 47
INSPIRATIONAL VOLUMES.
Here are some images that fill our heads with ideas! You can develop your own collection of ‘voluminous structures’ in the POP ART GEOMETRICS hands-on workshop (code W26, July 14th 2012) and TRANSFORM TEXTILES INTO SHORT FILMS (code W27, November 3rd 2012). We show you how!
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Become a member of The Slow Textiles Group and gain the opportunity to exhibit with a talented international design group. It’s easy, go to the blog and click on ‘Professional Membership’ or ‘Standard Membership’ option in the top right column. It’s cheap, it’s easy and it opens doors!
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NATURE IN PRINT! Join the group to get discounts on our floral workshops and conversations. Begin with a one-off such as FAST/SLOW ORGANIC GEOMETRICS (code W25, May 19th 2012), or look out for The People’s Print’s Great British Floral at the V&A in May 2012 (although we cannot give discounts on the V&A booking fee) and there’ll be the e-book after! 50
Look out for our kimono inspired print and stitch workshops!
Follow us here for news and workshop updates: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Slow-Textiles-Group/215859135130356
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Combine new knowledge with new techniques at the Slow Design School and get a place as a doctoral candidate at the best colleges in the world! Upcycled plastic cape by Emma Neuberg, 2007. 52
Come along to our stitch club when you attend the Slow Design School! Ask about attendance via Skype: hi@slowstudio.co.uk 53
INSPIRATIONAL LAYERS.
Attend/download the FAST/SLOW ORGANIC GEOMETRICS hands-on workshop (code W25, May 19th 2012) to work with the group on generating outlines and shapes, ready for appliquĂŠ and stitch. 54
This simple but exquisite floral work is from the sustainable fashion house, Alabama Chanin: www.alabamachanin.com
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All from Alabama Chanin. 57
MEDITATIVE GROUP SEWING. Join the Slow Design School to attend stitch seminars for reflection and discussion. 58
IDEATION WORKSHOPS. Keep an eye open for our group meetings where the seeds of projects are sown.
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DEVELOP YOUR CAD SKILLS! Join the Facebook group for dates and details: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Slow-Textiles-Group/215859135130356
If you are a Slow Textiles Group member, you’re invited to work with the group on developing your work for exhibition, press and publication. Yeehaa. 60
In 2012-3, the Slow Studio proudly presents the exhibition and publication, The Geometrics! Not only is this the first exhibition of its kind but the written publication is the first anthology of geometrics in fashion and textiles ever.
THE GEOMETRICS
Follow the Facebook group for dates and details: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Slow-Textiles-Group/215859135130356
an exhibition of contemporary textiles
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INSPIRATIONAL MONTAGE. The very graphic textile work of Basso&Brooke inspires several of our workshops look out for these as downloadable files where you can learn to develop your own ‘po-pomo’ (post postmodern) style!
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Create your own library of graphic motifs at any of our workshops to practise upscaling into repeat patterns. 63
TIMELESS LACE.
Attend the FAST/SLOW ORGANIC GEOMETRICS hands-on workshop on (code W25, May 19th 2012 ) to generate digital artwork that can be used for routing, lazer etching and 3D printing lace patterns in wool, steel, acrylic and platinum! We show you how! 64
Join the Slow Design School to develop timeless, sumptious textiles. These are from Comme des Garcons, Alexander McQueen and Dolce&Gabbana. 65
LUXURIOUS LAYERS! From Viktor & Rolf, Felcity Brown and John Galliano for Christian Dior. 66
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Join the Slow Design School to develop exciting and evocative experiments with painting, Photoshop and digitally printed cloth. This rich and evocative collection is by New York designer Michael Angel : www.michaelangel.net 68
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hi@slowstudio.co.uk
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‘Interior’ dresses by Mary Karantzou photgraphed by Elizabeth Spiridakis Erik Madigan Heck
CREATE NEW WORK, PRACTISE FLOW AND DEVELOP YOUR TACIT KNOWLEDGE.