a tropical plant of the pea family, which was formerly widely cultivated as a source of dark blue dye.
2.
the dark blue dye obtained from the indigo plant.
indigo is the natural dye I have used the most this year. Tinctorium ran an Indigo workshop alongside the Boro exhibition at Somerset House. Although I have used Indigo to Over dye found, discarded and Vintage fabrics to use in my weave, it was a great space to take part in a work shop instead of running them myself.
My love of Boro was the inspiration for my final collection at uni and continues to influence my textiles. I spent two happy hours at the Threads Of Life exhibition at Somerset House in April taking photographs and sketching. borotranslated to ‘rags’ in English, boro is the collective name for items – usually clothing and bed covers – made by the poor, rural population of Japan who could not afford to buy new when need required and had to literally make ends meet by piecing and patching discarded cotton onto existing sets, forming something slightly different each time they did so. Generations of Japanese families repaired and recycled fishermen’s jackets to futon covers, handing them down to the next and weaving their own sagas and stories through the threads.
This month the work of textile artist Kate Whitehead appears in the Selvedge Window. Specialising in weave and embroidery Kate uses what she describes as ‘poor materials’ such as calico, muslin, scrim and salvaged fabrics. Kate makes the cloth richer through patching and mending and more desirable by fashioning it into accessories, upholstery fabrics and wall hangings.
I am delighted to have been asked by Selvedge Magazine to show my work in their shop window from April 7th. Selvedge Magazine, 162 Archway Road, London, N6 5BB UK
My work is now live on Utelier. http://www.utelier.com/profiles/113 I am an artist and designer specialising in weave, embroidery and interiors. I use poor materials to produce unconventional items of beauty and distinction that can be worn, hung or framed. I find inspiration in the forgotten, overlooked and abandoned. My passion and creativity has brought me success, receiving awards in the UK and artist in residency in Morocco. My work is to be shown in Selvedge window.
Commendation from the Clothworkers foundation award for a material constructed for either a fashion or interiors product,created by non conventional means 2013
Embroidery sponsorship-Madeira 2012
Winner of the Holland and Sherry award for a woven fabric 2012
Commendation from the Clothworkers foundation award for a woven fabric for mens or womenswear including accessories 2012
work featured at the knit and stitch show 2011
