I learned to prefer natural fibers.
I learned the beauty of long flows of fabric in motion, as in long
full sleeves, long full skirts, shawls, etc.
I learned that ANYTHING can be embellished (not only embroidery on
blue jeans but also painting on raincoats, making trench coats out of
floral print fabric, etc)-- and that anything can be turned into
earrings.
I learned how comfortably traditional ethnic garments can be
integrated into modern western settings.
I learned to walk in long dresses.
I already knew how to sew and knit, embroider, and do basic weaving;
I taught myself to crochet, tat, and knot, and turn elaborate cables
in knitting; later I taught myself the basics of bobbin lace.
Actually I think I developed a whole new understanding of beauty in
the late '60s, and it was the outgrowth of an eye-and-spirit-opening
liberal-arts college experience and a new political awareness (into
both of which I plunged), not substance experimentation (in which I
merely waded)!
--Ruth Anne Baumgartner
scholar gypsy and amateur costumer
On Jul 8, 2009, at 2:46 PM, Käthe Barrows wrote:
Back in the 1960s I discovered ethnic garments and embroidery. (Any
ethnic garment that survived into the 21st Century is strongly
historically based, because nowadays "ethnics" all over the world wear
things like t-shirts.) So nowadays I use ikat from Guatemala, saree
fabric from India, and mud cloth from Africa in my everyday garments,
and sometimes I recreate ethnic garments.
Also in the 60s I re-discovered natural fiber, especially what it's
good for and what polyester isn't good for. So I can usually tell by
touch, sometimes even by sight, if bargain fabric is natural fiber
when I go shopping for fabric for something historical.
But the best things I learned in the 60s were the fiber crafts, like
macramé, weaving, and embroidery (crochet was big in the 60s but I
learned it later). This shows up in many of my historical garments,
as surface decoration or compulsive hand-finishing. I volunteer at a
maritime historical park and often do historical nautical macramé
demos there.
BTW, Laurel Burch-designed stuff, and Folkwear Patterns, are two
prominent products of the 60s Hippie movement (and I have photos to
prove it).
--
Carolyn Kayta Barrows
--
“The future is already here, it is just unevenly distributed.” -
William Gibson
--
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