Print, knit, weave and stitch: the BA Textile Design class of 2021

At Chelsea, BA Textile Design students are urged to explore the possibilities in weave, stitch, knit and print. Students are encouraged to not see these as stand-alone disciplines but instead to embrace the skills as a starting point to develop new and exciting solutions to design challenges.

We caught up with a 2021 graduate from each of these specialist disciplines to hear more about the work they are showing on the UAL Graduate Showcase.

Anna Hashimoto, specialised in weave

Exploring Colour Through the Artwork of Peter Doig is a collection of hand-woven textiles that showcase the beauty of colour and unique patterns. They explore the dramatic colour, dreamy landscape, and texture of the painting Gasthof zur Muldentalsperre (2000-02), Inspired by the paint quality and brushstrokes in this work.

I saw this Peter Doig painting at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo in Summer 2020. When I saw it, I felt like I was pulled into the painting's world. I fell in love with the dreamlike atmosphere which imbues the entire painting. The background was painted a greenish colour, standing out against the colourful stone wall. I tried to capture the beauty of Doig’s painting such as the richness of colour, dreamy landscape and texture of the paint through my own exploration of various weave techniques.

Natural dyeing is a key component of my work, with hand-dyed silk producing the vibrant, yet delicate tones of my colour palette. In addition to being a sustainable process, I am fascinated by the beautiful range and quality of colour which natural materials can produce.

In terms of turning the painting into woven textiles, I captured the beauty of Doig’s painting through my own exploration of various weave techniques on the loom. Geometric and organically shaped pattens are now at the heart of my work.

View more of Anna’s work on the UAL Showcase 2021.

Lola Turner, specialised in print

My project is titled BODY TO BODY. In a time when partying became illegal, I turned to my graduate collection to channel my yearning for the dance floor, to celebrate those who find freedom under neon lights and nights out where the possibilities for euphoric release are endless.

In this collection I wanted to showcase the different ways that printed textiles can transform new and old fabrics. I like to disguise how the layers of the screen prints are formed to make the finished pieces.

I am drawn to fabrics that are more traditionally used for sportswear and then combine them with silks, faux fur and knit to create something luxurious. I want to continue to explore the combination of the two and the contrasts.

I focused on using fabrics that would shine and glimmer to encapsulate the sensorial experience of a sweaty club e.g. PVC, PU leather with gloss binders, chainmail metal and reflective fabric.

The main reason I chose to study textiles rather than fashion design is because I wanted to develop my skills as a printer. So, as you can imagine, being outside of the workshops due to COVID was very frustrating. As soon as I could get into the print room I was there! Every day I was testing different print processes and then working in the evenings designing the clothes and developing prints for screens.

With the pandemic and the loss of legal music and club events, I wanted this collection to be a reminder of the times when we were able to party and dance together.

View more of Lola’s work on the UAL Showcase 2021.

Stacy Griffiths, specialised in stitch

Conflicting Thoughts is all about cognitive dissonance, visualised through my own conflicting thoughts and love of clean, minimalist, brutalist architecture versus my love of bright, delicate, and complex natural forms. The work also looks to explore the perception of textiles as a medium with regards to sexism and craft and act as a social bridge to get more people talking about traditionally academic theories such as cognitive dissonance and feminism.

This project has become a mix of hand-done and digital and is very graphic yet super detailed. The colour palette is inspired by the Brutalist architecture of London and Barcelona as well as bright and sculptural flowers from southeast London florists.

I have used a range of materials and am always conscious about material choices, ensuring that they are relevant to the context of the project and responsible with regards to their impact on people and planet.

I fell in love with digital embroidery and got really into learning the software. Despite being a textiles student, this was only the second time I have used fabric so that was both challenging and exciting.

View more of Stacy’s work on the UAL Showcase 2021.

Izzy Coyle specialised in knit

Temporary Measures is about a makeshift approach to everyday problem solving which often results in a playful, haphazard and temporary solution. It looks at how people instinctively interact and use the objects and matter that surround them to fix, mend or build things. Temporary Measures has developed into a collection of knitted pieces and installations that reflect these qualities.

The idea for the bundle bag came from images taken on my daily commute along Whitechapel high street. Each morning I would see the market stalls being unpacked and set up; each evening I would see the markets being taken down and packed away again. The bag draws from the bundles of striped tarpaulin sheets bound up with ropes. Being knitted with a blend of merino wool and lycra in a chunky rib gives the bag a structured body which can be concertinaed in and out. To fasten the bag, it is folded in on itself and bound up with a knitted cord.

View more of Izzy’s work on the UAL Showcase 2021.

• Visit the UAL Graduate Showcase 2021
• Find out more about BA Textile Design