Unravelling the Silk Road, a TASLA Special Interest Day, comprising 3 lectures, all of which convey Chris Alexander’s deep knowledge, experience and passion for the story of textiles.

1 – The Wool Road: The vast grasslands of the ancient nomadic cultures of Central Europe, tartan-wearing proto-Celts in China, houses made of wool, a beautiful and functional textile.
2 – The Silk Road: The first era of globalisation, fabrics such as velvet and atlas, a culture war over one item of women’s clothing, dowry embroideries, the magical protection woven into most clothing, a silk carpet workshop in present-day Uzbekistan, founded by Chris.
3 – The Cotton Road: Colonialism and anti-colonial resistance, Russian chintz and Laura Ashley, environmental harms and the experiences of cotton-pickers today.

At the end of the Scottish winter, immerse yourself in the brilliant colours, intricate designs and techniques of all 3 fabrics, and find out why Chris says “everything is about textiles”. Tickets £50 – full details and booking information are at https://tasla.org.uk/index.asp?pageid=613799