
From the violent campaign by English weavers against imported Indian cotton in the early 1700s, when gangs attacked women wearing patterned cotton gowns or petticoats, to the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building, an incident which left 1,138 Bangladeshi garment workers dead, Schmidt uses carefully curated individual pieces of textiles to examine and shed light on each different episode of the industry's deep - and often dark - history.
And aside from the enlightening storytelling aspect, there is also an wonderful visual side to this new showcase, with beautiful and timeless Morris prints displayed alongside more provocative pieces, showing the huge evolution the industry has undergone. Thought provoking and aesthetically tantalizing, this exhibition is one of the cool places to visit in London.
What | Alke Schmidt: Tangled Yarns |
Where | William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road Walthamstow, E17 4PP | MAP |
Nearest tube | Walthamstow Central (underground) |
When |
16 Oct 14 – 25 Jan 15, Wednesday - Sunday |
Price | £0 |
Website | http://www.wmgallery.org.uk/ |