Textiles
Features
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Post-war textiles
Chart the progression of post-war textile design, from wartime utility to atomic-era patterns, abstract art, psychedelia and nostalgic florals
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Indian textiles
India's handmade textiles are embedded in every aspect of its identity.
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Althea McNish – an introduction
Discover how Althea McNish's tropical textile designs changed the character of British Modernism
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Lucienne Day – an introduction
Of all the talented women textile designers of post-war Britain, Lucienne Day's influence is the most far-reaching
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Àdìrẹ – 'tied and dyed' indigo textiles
Discover a hugely popular African textile tradition
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Traditional Mexican dress
Discover the flamboyant styles of indigenous Mexican dress favoured by Frida Kahlo
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The making of medieval embroidery
See the traditional embroidery techniques used to create masterpieces of opus anglicanum
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The conservation of the Bullerswood Carpet
Find out how we look after the enormous, hand-knotted Bullerswood Carpet, designed by William Morris
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Sew your own: Mexican-style huipil
Sew your own colourful version of the traditional Mexican tunic worn by Frida Kahlo
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Linen – the original sustainable material
Used by Ancient Egyptians as an expression of class and still popular today, linen is the original sustainable fabric. Find out how it's made
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An A–Z of Opus Anglicanum
Do you know your cope from your chasuble, your split stitch from your satin stitch?
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James Merry on Opus Anglicanum
Contemporary embroidery artist James Merry takes a closer look at surviving masterpieces of English medieval embroidery
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Conservation of an Indian jama
Find out how our conservation team have repaired this intricately embellished piece
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Golden spider silk
Discover how the world's largest pieces of spider silk cloth were made
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Design and make a talking textile
Learn about some of Africa's 'talking textiles' and have a go at making your own!
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In search of forgotten colours – Sachio Yoshioka and the art of natural dyeing
Step inside the dye workshop
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Cloth of a continent: Africa Fashion
Discover more about African cloth types through our collections
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Costume conservation: My Fair Lady
From rags to riches, follow the transformation of an iconic piece of musical theatre history
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Tatreez: the ancient art of Palestinian embroideryDiscover six incredible examples of embroidered Palestinian fashion.
Collection highlights
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Banner, 600 – 900 AD, Dunhuang, China, pattern and plain woven silk, wood and paintV&A East Storehouse -
Cravat, jumper, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, 1927, France.V&A South Kensington -
The Bullerswood Carpet, designed by William Morris and John Henry Dearle, 1889, London, EnglandV&A South Kensington -
Animals by the Watering Hole, tapestry, by 'Ali Salim, 1985, EgyptV&A South Kensington -
Embroidered casket, made by Martha Edlin, 1671, EnglandV&A South Kensington -
Ensemble, unknown, early 19th century, IndiaV&A East Storehouse
