TEXTILE ART

Textile art is something we come into contact with every day, from the clothes we wear to the objects that decorate our home. It is an art that can be beautiful and useful at the same time; one of the oldest forms of art in human civilization. In the beginning, it was focused on functional purposes such as clothing or blankets to keep warm. As time passed, textiles became more elaborate and difficult to produce; everything had to be done by hand, including the collection of fibers from plants or animals and then twisting them to make them into yarn.  The invention of machinery like the cotton engine, spinning jenny, and power loom automated the creation of fabrics which made possible its production on a large scale. 

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Among the popular techniques in textile art are weaving, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting. While many textile artists use traditional techniques when starting their work, others deconstruct them to create innovative and impactful work. With its countless visual possibilities, contemporary textile artists showcase the vast possibilities when dealing with fabric, thread, and yarn. Examples are the use of weaving to create architecture-inspired wall hangings; crochet in thin wire to create sculptures; embroidery on unconventional canvases like tennis rackets; cross-stitches designs into metal objects and so on. However, the original focus of the use of textiles continues to thrive through the fashion world; although many articles of clothing are still made for a purely utilitarian purpose, contemporary designers conceptualize garments as spectacular pieces of fabric art that are put on blank canvassed bodies.