Each year since 2008 the European Textile Forum has organised a series of conferences were professional textile historians meet dedicated crafters
The European Textile Forum is responsible for a yearly conference where professional textile historians and archaeologists get the chance to meet up with crafters with no academic background – networking, exchanging ideas and offering mutual inspiration. The conference has run since 2008.
Research about old textiles – archaeological finds, relics and museum pieces – is a wonderful way to learn from the ancient workers. The quality, detail and knowledge that went into making many of the surviving historical textiles is stunning, and it’s not always possible to see at first glance how it was made. In these cases, the crafts perspective and craft knowledge can be the key to reconstruct processes or to explain odd details. This is when thorough research and applied skills can work together at their best
Craft skills are also an invaluable asset when designing and running an archaeological experiment that includes craft elements. The Forum with its large number of skilled textile workers is the ideal opportunity to run a large-scale archaeological experiment concerning textile works, like the Spinning Experiment in the Forum 2009. It is also very well suited to getting input and brainstorming help from different perspectives, and to consult crafters with different backgrounds.
The European Textile Forum actively encourage the exchange of information and craft skills – networking is a very important, if not the most important aspect of the Textile Forum. The craft focus is also evident in the organisation of the programme, as each paper or presentation is usually accompanied by a practical session related to the paper. This includes everything from workshops on the basic technique to in-depth and hands-on brainstorming about possibilities to achieve a specific outcome as evidenced in the original item.
The original idea also included a market for the opportunity to buy rare, specific and usually hard-to-get tools and materials especially for historical textile techniques. While our first market at Eindhoven was very well received, the format of the conference doesn’t really support a full-fledged market. There is, however, the opportunity to buy or sell specialist items at the Textile Forum – from books to materials or tools.
The Textile Forum is a friendly, open place to meet new people and get in contact with both craft practice and scientific research – for the benefit of all.
FEATURED PHOTO:
Sprang – Show-and-Tell at European Textile Forum 2012 © B. Nutz, Institut für Archäologien, Universität Innsbruck
