Discover Benelux  |  Brabant  |  The Perfect Winter Break

Exhibition Fringes of Beauty, work Armor by Heringa/Van Kalsbeek.

Designer Samira Boon working at the TextielLab.

TEXTIELMUSEUM AND TEXTIELLAB:

‘Come as a visitor, leave as a creator’ TEXT: TEXTIELMUSEUM  |  PHOTOS: JOSEFINA EIKENAAR

The TextielMuseum in Tilburg is more than a museum. Thanks to a combination of inspiring exhibitions, educational programs and a specialist production facility, the TextielLab, this unique attraction is one of a kind. Housed in a former textile factory, the TextielMuseum recounts the history of the textile industry and invites visitors into the worlds of heritage, design, art and fashion. The museum’s ‘beating heart’ and its most special part is the world-famous TextielLab. “Artists, designers, architects and young talents discover, accompanied by experts, the endless possibilities in the fields of yarns, computerised techniques and crafts. The visitor looks over the shoulder of the artist and closely follows the creation process. After that, visitors have the opportunity to create for themselves in one of the workshops or masterclasses,” explains Hebe Verstappen, head of the TextielLab.  

Craftsmanship

By using old and new computer-controlled machines and sharing the knowledge and 32  |  Issue 37  |  January 2017

experience of product developers and technical experts, beautiful new products are made. “The craftsmanship of these people is essential – it is something we do not want to be lost. We are keeping the heritage alive, and at the same time are working on innovation,” adds Verstappen. “We want to show everyone that textile manufacturing still truly is a craft,” explains Geertje Jacobs, head of the museum. “That’s why we work together with renowned names in the industry, from architects to designers and studios. Actually, we want everyone to leave as a creator. Each visitor gets an idea of the time and energy it takes to make beautiful textile works. And, during this exploration, you might just run into famous designers such as Viktor&Rolf.”  

A tapestry for Holland Boulevard

At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, passengers can find special work made in the TextielLab, at the Holland Boulevard. NEXT architects designed various ‘living rooms’ for this Boulevard, from which passengers can experience the Dutch

landscape. “A well-known acquaintance of the Lab, designer Samira Boon, designed a 26-metre textile wall for one of the rooms. Technical specialists translated a photograph of a Dutch landscape to a file that could be read by our machines and woven,” explains Verstappen.

The work of Samira Boon made in the TextielLab for the Holland Boulevard at Schiphol.

EXHIBITIONS AT TEXTIELMUSEUM: Fringes of Beauty - Until 28 May Sparkling | Damask and glass from Classic to Art Deco - Until 29 October Switch | Dutch Design on the move - Until 12 March Co-Creation | In the TextielLab - Until 12 March Woollen Blanket Factory 1990-1940 Permanent www.textielmuseum.nl