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Global Textile Trades

January 18, 2012 by Marlise Schoeny

October 5, 2011 – February 11, 2012

global-textiles

View images from this exhibition.

Trade is one of those English words with many meanings. It can be a verb as in “to make an exchange” or “to buy and sell.” As a noun trade can indicate a skill or craft, or it can refer to an entire industry such as when the fashion industry is referred to as “the rag trade.”

Global Textile Trades explores all these aspects of trade from the craft of creating cloth from fibers and yarns to the skill of decorating that cloth through patterns of weaving, dyeing and embroidery techniques. Trade as exchange happens not only in the buying and selling of goods, but also in the exchange of cultural aesthetics and ideas. The international trade in textile products over the past several hundred years is evident in Indian influence in the textiles of Southeast Asia and Europe, and European influence in the textiles of Asia and Africa.

Finally, trade in its most traditional aspect of buying and selling can be experienced in the Global Gallery @ OSU store in the lower gallery space. Global Gallery is a local Fair Trade retailer with locations in the Short North and Clintonville that has set up a laboratory store partnership with the Fashion and Retail Studies program. Fair trade provides under- and unemployed artisans from around the world with an opportunity to earn vital income and improve their quality of life by establishing a sustainable market for their handcrafted products.

Gayle Strege
Curator

chinese-butterflies-detail-
Detail of embroidered butterflies and flowers from the front panel of a Chinese skirt c. 1900
bandani-textile
Tie dye detail of Indian bandhani cloth, c. 1970
thai-cross-stitch
Cross stitch detail of women’s trousers from the Yao culture, Thailand
c.2000.

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Welcome

The Historic Costume & Textiles Collection is a scholarly and artistic resource of apparel and textile material culture. The 11,500+ holdings encompass a range of three dimensional objects such as textiles and articles of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, including national dress costume, from the mid-18th century to contemporary 21st century designers.

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Visitors are welcome to tour exhibitions when they are on display in gallery spaces. Gallery hours and location can be found on the visit us page or you may contact us for upcoming information on exhibitions, programs, and events.

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Email: strege.2@osu.edu

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