Silk : fibre, fabric and fashion

Silk Fibre, fabric and fashion

Book - 2021

Silk has long captured the imagination of peoples round the globe, inspiring creativity in the making of luxurious textiles. This major new survey draws on the exceptional collections of London's Victoria and Albert Museum and explores tradition and innovation across the history and geography of silk production, celebrating the ingenuity and skill of designers and makers. Structured by technique, from weaving and knitting to dyeing, printing and embroidery, this compendium showcases a rich variety of artworks, furnishings and clothing, including fashions from recent designer catwalk shows in North America, Asia and Europe. In association with the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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Subjects
Silk > History.
Silk industry > History.
Published
London : Thames & Hudson, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum 2021.
Language
English
Corporate Author
Victoria and Albert Museum
Corporate Author
Victoria and Albert Museum (-)
Physical Description
504 pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page 498) and index.
ISBN
9780500480656
  • Plain and simple
  • Warps and wefts
  • Twine and twist, net, knot and knit
  • Paint, resist and print
  • Stitch, slash, stamp and pleat.
Review by Choice Review

Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion is a massive, visual survey drawing on the holdings of the the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Edited by three curators at the V&A, this 500-page volume includes more than 600 illustrations and content from more than 25 contributors. Instead of classifying objects by time or country, the book is structured around construction and technique. The volume comprises an introduction and five chapters: "Plain and Simple" (on monochrome silks); "Warps and Wefts" (patterned weaves); "Twine and Twist, Net, Knot and Knit"; "Paint, Resist and Print"; and "Stitch, Slash, Stamp and Pleat." Also included are a glossary of terms, notes, further reading, a list of other museums and heritage sites with major silk collections, and an index. Each chapter starts with a brief essay introducing the topic; the rest of the chapter offers images with short explanatory paragraphs about the objects shown. Each chapter concludes with two or three brief essays on a special historical topic (e.g., "Woven in China, Tailored in Italy") or a conservation challenge ("The Dangers of Drink, Dance and Dirt"). An amazing, comprehensive, and beautiful tome. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All collections. --Clara E. Berg, Museum of History and Industry

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this luxurious tribute to one of the world's oldest textiles, curators Miller (Balenciaga), Lafuente, and Allen-Johnstone, all associated with London's Victoria and Albert Museum, take a deep dive into the museum's rich trove of silk. The authors trace the material's cultivation, production, and trade routes dating back to 500 C.E., and describe methods of producing silk textiles (such as weaving, crocheting, and embroidering) as well as how it is dyed and printed. More than 600 images enchant, and include lovely fashion pieces by Oscar de la Renta, Dior, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, as well as luxe carpets, bedroom screens, parasols, and even couture Barbie dolls. A glossary of textile terms demystifies the finer points of silk production and artistry, and there's a reading list for those with a deep curiosity in the topic. Any fan of fashion will devour this exquisite volume. (Oct.)

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