Textiles naturales

Each year first years at Vigo University´s Fashion Design course have an unusual challenge:  to create or modify a garment or design a fashion accessory using fabrics woven by themselves on simple hand-looms.

These students are not craft or weave students but at ESDEMGA fashion school they have the chance to study simple weave techniques and the elements of woven textile design with professional weaver and designer of hand-woven fabrics, Anna Champeney.

Some of ESDEMGA´s students will be the fashion designers of tomorrow.  But of course, they could also become part of the new generation of design-makers in Spain, making hand-made limited editions by hand.  Or a combinatio of the two.

Craft has always been present in high-end couture pieces and to create additional drama on the catwalk.  But in the work of small-scale, high-end independent designers craft is also increasingly present, both as an ideal, an inspiration and means of production.

The future of craft in Spain also depends, more than ever, on design skills as well as making skills.