The first Selvedge World Fair takes place online from 3 – 5 September 2020. The three-day virtual event, a celebration of cloth, culture and creativity, will present the work of 100 artisans, bringing together varied – and in some cases endangered – textile traditions from 60 countries.
Visitors will be able to buy handmade fabric, fashion and homewares from across the globe, take part in online workshops from master craftspeople, join international talks and be together as a community for a live quiz.
Buy direct from TEXTILE designers and makers
The fair is a chance to buy direct from sustainable designers and makers of fashion, fabric and homewares. Artisans taking part include Somporn Intaraprayong, award-winning embroiderer and textile artist from Thailand, Maria and Karl Wagner, experts in the ‘Blaudruck’ dye technique from Austria and Aissata Namoko, indigo dyer and Djiguiyaso Cooperative founder from Mali.
In fashion, designers who work with artisans, Carla Fernandez (Mexico), Bibi Hanum (Uzbekistan) and Santandu Dass (India) will talk about how they partner with artisans on IGTV interviews.
(Copyright Porfirio Gutierrez)
Learn endangered skills
The virtual workshops include something for all craft and textile lovers. From surface design to knitting, basket-making to upcycling clothes. They are a rare opportunity to learn skills from master artisans, from creating rugs with recycled materials to traditional Kyrgyz “ala-kiyiz” felting.
Listen to experts
Topics will range widely from celebrating materials, to preserving skills, to approaching challenges like cultural appropriation and sustainability.
The Selvedge World Fair also offers access to content to help visitors get closer to makers, from a live chat-room where visitors can ask artisans questions, to pre-recorded ‘show and tell’ films about products and processes, and themed podcasts.
MADE Makers discount code
Tickets cost £12.50 for Selvedge magazine subscribers and £25 for general admission. Use code MAD3592020 for a 25% discount (£18.75).
Standard tickets give access to Selvedge World Fair on Friday 4th & Saturday 5th September including talks, show & tell sessions, shopping, demonstrations, articles and interviews as well as a quiz with prizes. Workshops are priced separately.
The MADE Makers offer also extends to preview tickets, giving access to shopping on Thursday 3rd September evening for £3.75 instead of £5.00.
More information and tickets: www.selvedge.org.
