Silk has inspired creativity in textile fabrication for millennia. Drawing on the exceptional collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, this richly illustrated compendium offers a detailed account of how silk has been cultivated, woven, dyed, patterned, traded, and worn across the globe over the past 2,000 years. From archaeological treasures to contemporary designers' catwalk collections from the fashion capitals of America, Asia, and Europe, this volume, presented in luxurious cloth binding, catalogs a breathtaking selection of silks. The colors, patterns, and textures in Silk reveal a truly remarkable variety of decorative techniques and the rich exchange of ideas and skills between different cultures.
A wide-ranging and inspiring introduction to silk, this book will appeal to textile connoisseurs, enthusiasts, and students as a celebration of the creativity, ingenuity, and skill of the designers and makers of the world's noblest fabric.