Sudpsuez Chinese Dress in Detail by Sau Fong Chan
Words by Sau Fong Chan
Photographs by Sarah Duncan
Chinese Dress in Detail reveals the beauty and variety of Chinese dress for women, men, and children, both historically and geographically, showcasing the intricacy of decorative embroidery and rich use of materials and weaving and dyeing techniques. The reader is granted a unique opportunity to examine historical clothing that is often too fragile to display, from quivering hair ornaments, stunning silk jackets and coats, festive robes, and pleated skirts, to pieces embellished with rare materials such as peacock-feather threads or created through unique craft skills, as well as handpicked contemporary designs.
A general introduction provides an essential overview of the history of Chinese dress, plotting key developments in style, design, and mode of dress, and the traditional importance of clothing as a social signifier, followed by eight thematic chapters that examine Chinese dress in exquisite detail from head to toe. Each garment is accompanied by a short text and detailed photography; front-and-back line drawings are provided for key items.
An extraordinary exploration of the splendour and complexity of Chinese garments and accessories, Chinese Dress in Detail will delight all followers of fashion, costume, and textiles.
Sudpsuez Italian Textile Design by Vittorio Linfante and Massimo Zanella
Written by Vittorio Linfante and Massimo Zanella
From experiments by Lucio Fontana and Gio Ponti to Emilio Pucci’s kaleidoscopic motifs and Germana Marucelli’s optical patterns; from Roberta di Camerino’s trompe l'oeil effects to the pop sensibility of Ken Scott, Elio Fiorucci, Gianni Versace, and Franco Moschino; from the work on the heritage by Prada, Marni, and Valentino to the valorisation of Missoni's corporate archive and the hybrid graphic designs by Maison Laponte, Gentile Catone, Colomba Leddi and IUTER, these artists, fashion designers, and companies helped create the worldwide fame of Italian fabrics from the early twentieth century to contemporary times. A history closely entwined with the concept of “Made in Italy,” contributing significantly to Italy's international reputation as a citadel of high-quality fashion and design. Over 500 illustrations, photographs, and preparatory drawings, many previously unpublished, from corporate and private archives, recount some of Italy’s most important creative achievements.
Published by Marsilio Arte
Sudpsuez Kitmir: Mademoiselle Chanel’s Russian Embroideries
Words by Nadia Albertini, Sophie Kurkdjian
Kitmir's embroideries were characterised by their imagination and fantasy, inspired by the Slavic world and Persia, China and Egypt, in an exotic and cosmopolitan spirit typical of the period. Few garments embroidered by the Kitmir workshop have survived.
Cousin of the Russian emperor Nicholas II, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna fled Russia in 1918 and settled in Paris in 1920. The Russian emigrants, who had been needle-wielders since childhood, found that embroidery was a source of income that enabled them to rebuild their lives in Paris. In autumn 1921, the Grand Duchess met Mademoiselle Chanel, who was looking for new inspiration for her designs and found in Marie a valuable ally. She signed an exclusive contract with the house to create and supply embroidery for the seasonal collections and founded the Kitmir company in 1922. The same year, Chanel launched its Russian collection.
This book is dedicated to the history of the Kitmir workshop. It retraces the career of Grand Duchess Marie and her dialogue with Mademoiselle Chanel through part of her production between 1921 and 1928. The book also includes around a hundred samples, carefully preserved and never before published since the workshop closed in 1929.
Sudpsuez Pull of The Thread: Textile Travels of a Generation by Sheila Fruman
Words by Sheila Fruman
Sheila Fruman, fascinated by the textiles and handmade carpets she saw when she travelled overland in 1969 from Turkey to India, tells the stories of nine intrepid adventurers who have combed the streets and bazaars of Central and South Asia finding, researching, collecting and selling antique Kashmir shawls, embroidered Uzbek textiles and robes, Anatolian kilims, Turkmen carpets and many other textile treasures to interested Westerners.
These stories capture the post-World War II era’s free spirit that briefly coincided with economic prosperity and open borders. With over 200 colour illustrations, the book shows how the indigenous designs and motifs popularised in the US and Europe by these textile travellers can now be found in anything from haute couture to high-end interior design to mass-marketed bedding, tableware and clothing.
The dealers and collectors who have spent their lives seeking these complex pieces of the past have intriguing stories to tell and collections of some of the finest textiles of their kind in the world. Taken together, their stories are an enlightening guide to understanding how we connect to the past, and how textiles connect the world.
Published by HALI
Sudpsuez Textile of the Middle East and Central Asia – The Fabric of Life
Words by Fahmida Sulehman
A beautifully illustrated exploration of the textile traditions of a culturally diverse region, from the late eighteenth century to the present day, featuring works from the extraordinary textile collection at the British Museum Textiles of the Middle East and Central Asia explores the significance and beauty of textiles from across the Middle East, Turkey, and Central Asia. This vast region has been the focus of population movements, exploration, and trade for thousands of years and is home to a wealth of textile traditions. From the intricate embroidery on a Palestinian wedding dress to the complex iconography on an Afghan war rug, textiles reflect the beliefs, practices, and experiences of people from these lands. The book is arranged thematically with pieces grouped according to their purpose or meaning, enabling, for example, the comparison of domestic furnishings, wedding attire, and children’s garments from across the region. The book also includes contemporary works that grapple with modern political issues. The textiles featured include male and female garments, hats and headdresses, rugs and felts, children’s clothing, dolls, tent hangings, amulets and animal harnesses. Focusing on the British Museum’s remarkable collection, Textiles of the Middle East and Central Asia offers a wealth of creative inspiration and will be essential reading for anyone interested in textiles and the cultures of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Sudpsuez Textiles, The Art of Mankind
Written by Mary Schoeser
Textiles are the most ubiquitous, diverse, and consistently creative art form on the planet. This major new work comprises more than one thousand images that highlight the beauty, subtlety, simplicity, or complexity of textiles created around the world. Based on the knowledge accrued over a lifetime of immersion in the textile arts, Mary Schoeser’s definitive text offers sweeping insight into the role that textiles have played throughout human civilization. The juxtaposition of historical and contemporary examples highlights the skill and imagination of textile designers through the centuries as well as the remarkable range of achievements. Detailed images and informed captions illustrate the variety and allure of textiles, and the informative descriptions include histories of private collections, underscoring the importance of context for appreciating the exquisite detail of fabric and cloth. An extensive resource section provides valuable information about museum and textile associations across the globe.
Published by Thames & Hudson