ALL THINGS TEXTILE: BERLIN TEXTILE COOP OFFERS SPACE FOR RESEARCH, WORKSHOPS & EXCHANGE

ALL THINGS TEXTILE: BERLIN TEXTILE COOP OFFERS SPACE FOR RESEARCH, WORKSHOPS & EXCHANGE

Some materials touch us more than any art on the wall: textiles are not just fabrics, they’re stories, woven from threads and memories. They are garments that allow you to express your identity or a pattern that tells of distant cultures. Especially at a time when sustainability and craftsmanship are as important as they are, handmade textiles are experiencing a renaissance. And if you’re as fascinated by them as I am, you’ll find a new favorite place at Berlin Textile Coop. Sara Diaz Rodriguez and Essi Johanna Glomb are behind the concept: the founders bring their expertise as textile designers and researchers and have a clear vision for the space. They want to strengthen local networks in the industry, promote sustainable processes, and open up new paths for design and production. With projects such as the “Open Source HILO E-Spinning Wheel” or the Prototyping Lab, they show how traditional and modern techniques can be combined. From digital knitting machines to tufting tools and spinning machines, they’re creating a place for research and exchange and access for people who want to approach the topic. The regular workshops are a good way to get a grip on the subject. I recommend the spinning workshop: here you’ll learn how to make yarns (even from home!).

After we start with a short welcome round, Sara introduces the participants to a variety of spinning techniques and lets us playfully discover which fibers are used to make yarn and how to distinguish between them. Without any previous knowledge, we move to the bright open room, where Sara’s HILO e-spinning wheels are waiting for us among many other exciting stations, machines, yarns and books. A little practice and a brief introduction are all it takes to feel confident operating the station, so I can focus on selecting the fibers I want to use to make my yarn. With plenty of new knowledge and project ideas, I stopover at Neumanns Bäckerei (with which Textile Coop shares a house number) after the workshop before heading home with my spun yarn samples.

Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen

Berlin Textile Coop, Weichselstr.32, 10247 Berlin–Friedrichshain; map
Find the next workshops here.

@berlin_textile_coop

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