Archipelago Textiles
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about
weaving
garments & clothing
interior fabrics
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Archipelago Textiles |
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|
Shop Online
|
about
weaving
garments & clothing
interior fabrics
contact |
|
| Information | |
| Events | |
| News | |
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The Signature Label
for the individual and distinctive textiles hand-woven by Doreen Gittens, Master of Design, Glasgow School of Art.
The studio, alive with the warm oranges, vivid reds and deep blues, calmed by the subtle shades of ivory and natural whites, overlooks the ever flowing River Thames. Only the finest natural yarns of cotton, linen and silks can produce the luxurious gossamer light scarves and brides' wedding shawls as well as fabrics for interior furnishings.
A rare skill with less than 200 hand-weavers in the UK. Fewer still are able to dedicate themselves full time to their workshop and their beautiful creations.
Her creations travel far afield from their London home, to Parisian couture houses, and even Tokyo. Prominent U.S. and Middle Eastern architects rely on her to supply the exclusive woven textiles for their specialised projects.
You need only an idea and Doreen Gittens alone will weave it into the unique, bespoke product that has crossed from the imagination into reality. In addition, the showroom contains many wonderful examples, all equally different and special, but ready to take away with you.
Exhibitions & Trade Shows
Archipelago Textiles exhibit at several specialist fairs throughout the year.
Most are open to the public, or have tickets avalable for purchase at the entrance. Some of these are invitaion only events - please contact the showroom in advance if you would like to attend.
nothing more is scheduled for the immediate future .. please check again soon
News
Everyone had a wonderful time at the launch evening on October 21st. After a cold autumn day, if the wine and international food treats didn't warm you, the vibrancy and freshness of the Natural Dyes Collection would start your blood pumping again.
Everything in the collection gets their colour from the natural dye extracts from Annatto, Indigo, Weld, Madder, Sappell and Buckthorn. Hours of hand-weaving produce clothing ranging from wrap-around jackets in denim matching blues to scarves in the beautiful summer reminding golden yellows of Weld and Buckthorn. It is hard to believe today, that such fabulous colours are made without chemicals, using only traditional methods of extraction from berries and leaves, 'cold pressed' if you will. Combined with the natural fibres of silk and cotton, you have truely 'organic' clothing!
It is sometimes said that what is taken for granted is often the hardest to see. The inspiration for such a brilliant range? A journey to distant shores coupled with memories of childhood. During a recent visit to the La Grenade plantation in Grenada, Dorren finds the Annatto tree in fruit, bursting with pods full of berries. Her mother would use Annatto berries as a food colouring, and wouldn't it be exciting to do the same to dye raw thread? This experiment was most satisfactory so leading to the new Natural Dyes Collection.
The exhibition is now available in the showroom at the Oxo Tower, so go along and see these amazing creations before they are all sold.