Huguenot Silk Weavers: A Legacy in Thread
This talk explores the rich history of the Huguenot silk weavers, French Protestant refugees who brought exceptional textile skills to England following persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many first settled in coastal towns such as Canterbury, Dover, and Sandwich, before establishing thriving weaving communities in London, most notably in Spitalfields.
Renowned for their intricate designs and technical innovation, Huguenot weavers revolutionised English silk production and set new standards in fashion and design. Their industry flourished for over a century, but eventually declined due to changing tastes, industrialisation, and competition from imported fabrics.
Today, the legacy of Huguenot craftsmanship lives on in contemporary fashion and textile design, with echoes of their motifs, techniques, and entrepreneurial spirit still visible on the catwalk and in the studio.
Following the talk, Lara Dix and Ailsa Hendry will present Huguenot silk samples from the Huguenot Museum and Museum of the Home collections for study. This will be a rare opportunity for close observation of fragile Huguenot silks typically kept in collection stores.
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This talk explores the rich history of the Huguenot silk weavers, French Protestant refugees who brought exceptional textile skills to England following persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries. Many first settled in coastal towns such as Canterbury, Dover, and Sandwich, before establishing thriving weaving communities in London, most notably in Spitalfields.
Renowned for their intricate designs and technical innovation, Huguenot weavers revolutionised English silk production and set new standards in fashion and design. Their industry flourished for over a century, but eventually declined due to changing tastes, industrialisation, and competition from imported fabrics.
Today, the legacy of Huguenot craftsmanship lives on in contemporary fashion and textile design, with echoes of their motifs, techniques, and entrepreneurial spirit still visible on the catwalk and in the studio.
Following the talk, Lara Dix and Ailsa Hendry will present Huguenot silk samples from the Huguenot Museum and Museum of the Home collections for study. This will be a rare opportunity for close observation of fragile Huguenot silks typically kept in collection stores.
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