Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design offers a BA and MA in Textile Design that cover a range of eco-textile issues and hosts a research group Textile Environment Design.
Undergraduate
BA (hons) Textile Design: The course covers a range of eco-textiles issues. All students are introduced to eco -textiles issues in the first year through the theory and studio programmes. In the spring term they produce recycled garments for the Alternative Fashion Show in Spitalfields, London. In the summer term they have a ‘Green Textiles’ lecture series and can choose to write their 1500 word essay on this subject. In the second year these interests continue through a design project and theory programme. Two thirds of the year group opted to write their 3000 word essay on this theme. By the third year, students can choose to write their final dissertation (6000 words) on eco -textile issues and are encouraged to integrate this into their final graduate collection. This eco-textile course work is supported by the Textiles Environment Design (TED) project and resource, which the students access from their first year onwards. Students are encouraged to be involved in eco-textiles issues through internships and placements.
Contact: Kay Politowicz, Course tutor at <k.politowicz_at_chelsea.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the course website.
Postgraduate
MA Textile Design: incorporates a practical concern for environmental issues.
Contact: Lorna Bircham on <l.bircham_at_chelsea.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the course website.
Research
The Textile Environment Design (TED) Project is a research cluster at Chelsea which involves all textiles staff. Teaching and research is by Rebecca Earley, Reader TED. TED seeks to consider what role the textile designer can play in the field of eco-design. It develops projects such as ‘Ever and Again: Rethinking Recycled Textiles' and a major outcome was the Well Fashioned 2006/7 exhibition.
The Textile Environment Design (TED) Resource is an open access facility that houses a collection of fabric samples, press cuttings, academic papers, dissertations, research projects and case studies.
Contact: Clara Vuletich on <ted_at_chelsea.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the Textile Environment Design website.
