ILC

Student Info

Name: Kathryn Allen
Term: Winter 2018
Credits: 16
Title: Examining the History, Sustainability, and Practice of Textile Crafts

Contract Info

Contract mode: SOS
Sponsor name: Sarah Williams

 

Program Description

Narrative:

This learning contract will focus on the history and production of local crafts/textiles across the globe and will focus primarily on those of two historically colonized regions – India and the British Isles. These traditional  traditional “slow” fashion methods will be compared and contrasted with modern “fast” fashion production. This work will have a particular focus on the traditional roots of modern day fashion staples such as cotton kaftans and cable knit sweaters. During the course of the quarter, the student will conduct research on the impact of those crafts on rural economies and the impact of their evolution into modern day industrialized fashion. Weekly readings and classes focused on sustainable agriculture will aid the student in drawing connections between issues of sustainability and the various different methods of textile production. The student will also participate in hands-on learning of textile crafts including wool spinning and weaving as a method of better understanding the value of hours put into handcrafted items through a weekly class at the Arbutus Folk School in Olympia, Washington as well as attend workshops throughout the community. These classes will culminate in finished pieces that the student will analyze and price according to the value of time and skill put into it in juxtaposition with the research done concerning the value of skilled craftsmanship in this day and age.

 

Learning objective Activity Deliverable
To learn the history of the textile-based folk crafts on three different continents – specifically focusing on the khadi cotton industry in India, and the wool/linen industry of the British Isles. This portion will be researched based. Texts used for this research will include: Ireland’s Traditional Crafts, Contemporary Irish Textile Art: The Women of Annaghmakerrig, Textiles and Weavers in India, Khadi Cotton in Indian Economy and more. These readings will be accompanied by weekly reflections. Annotated bibliography, weekly reflections, and hours logged through WordPress.
To gain a hands-on understanding of the time, value, and craftsmanship involved in traditional textile production. The student will participate in a combination of skill share workshops and weekly classes at the Arbutus Folk school that focuses on spinning, weaving, and other textile arts. This will be the basis of a final product that the student will estimate the value of based on time and materials put into it compared to the price of what one would see in a story. The product will be created with a focus on sustainability and will aid in creating an analysis of what it means to be a sustainable craftsman in today’s world. Readings based around this will include: Starting and Running a Profitable Craft Business: A Step by Step Business Plan, and The Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork. The finished textile product as well as the analysis in the form of a series of WordPress blog posts.
To learn about the sustainability of local textile vs. industrialized fashion. The student will research traditional textile production methods as well as the methods used to create the same look for a cheaper price and analyze the impact of those practices on the environment and economy. The student will look into localized textile production and compare and contrast their methods with conventional textile production. Weekly reflections and hours logged through WordPress.
To gain a more in depth understanding of agriculture as it relates to cotton, linen, and wool production in India and the British Isles. The student will attend weekly classes focused around hands on agricultural work and seminars based around texts including  Restoring Heritage Grains, The Cooking Gene,  Letters to Young Farmers, Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic.  Attendance in class, hours logged, and seminar writings.
  • Narrative evaluations from field supervisor and/or subcontractor
  • Narrative mid-quarter and final self-evaluations
  • WordPress ePortfolio