- CollegeCentral Saint Martins
- CourseBA (Hons) Textile Design
- Graduation year2024
Platonic Harmony is a Printed Textile Design Final Major Project exploring female friendship and platonic relationships, through natural screen print and tangible textiles. Celebrating the comfort, we share in the tactile nature of friendship, the final collection is used in an immersive interior setting, prompting tangible conversation and reminiscing in a time of digital connection. The collection consists of naturally printed fabrics forming wall hangings, a tablecloth, napkins and decorative trims.
Sustainable wool, surplus linen and reclaimed cotton are the only materials used, their natural qualities working together to create a collection which communicates a feeling of warmth and welcoming, the colours are bright and varied, however, all from the natural dye palette. A craft aspect runs through the project, taking inspiration from the Bloomsbury Group and their connection to one another and to the natural and creative worlds, Platonic Harmony aims to capture this feeling and bring it into the current day.
Final work
The Collection
The final outcomes consist of wall hangings, trims and a table cloth which communicate feelings of warmth and comfort, to replicate those feelings we have when with our friends, and also those celebrated by the Bloomsbury Group. The materials used therefore reflected this and were an essential aspect of the project. The four large, naturally printed wall hangings, from the final collection, are printed onto sustainable British wool felt. This provided it's challenges when printing, each being more than 4 layer prints, so the technical side of the project was an important aspect. Some wall hangings featured borders whilst others, appliqué.
Another aspect was the five trims I designed and printed. The trims have several aesthetically pleasing uses, complementing the wall hangings and reflecting the paintings of Vanessa Bell and her companions who decorated every inch of furniture with decorative patterns. I loved incorporating rich layers of patterned textiles which reflected my influences.
The Final part of the collection was a large circular tablecloth printed in circular repeat with moveable elements. The tablecloth and bound napkins were printed on linen. The tablecloth features a scalloped edge, a motif also seen in the wall hangings and trims. The circular layout is important for creating the idea of conversation and sitting around a table.
The collection was depicted to show the overall encompassing feel of the pieces. Each working together to create a welcoming and immersive space. A setting of friends, comfortable in each other's company, telling stories and sharing ideas. The warmth of friendship is encapsulated in the photoshoot.
Research and process
The Design Process
The design process of my project stemmed from a drawing workshop I held where my friends gathered to draw, share stories and have meaningful conversations. The imagery came from this - hands, flowers in vases, knives, forks and vessels - which influenced the final collection. The symbolic nature of the motifs is important to the work, representing the narrative of friendship and sharing time with others. I worked on large paperwork and with collage, to create the imagery used for screen exposure.
The Making Process
The technical making process of the project was important. Print pastes and modifiers used to make bright colours, influenced the layered designs to get the desired colours. Some planning, extensive printing with technical differences for each design, material and colourway and resilience to keep going when colours washed out. The making process involved a lot of problem-solving to get the desired outcomes.
