Textile Design & Silk Screening

Humans have been dying fabric ever since times started. It is no secret that there are countless of techniques, industrial and DIY involved in the process of putting color and prints into woven surfaces. Some of the most artisanal techniques are Batik, which is based on wax to create patters, the most well known tie-dye, woodblock printing, which is an Indian specialized technique, and one of the most common, yet sophisticated techniques – silk screening.

This technique can be practiced at home, at the same time that the most high-end labels also use it to print unique motives into their fabrics. A silk Hermès scarf can be silk screened with more than 40 different patterns – one for each color – at the same time that someone at home can make a cool t-shirt or a canvas tote out of one and only screen. The possibilities are endless, and the process is pretty much 100% manual.

In order to work with silk screens, the specialized textiles designer or artisan uses a woven mesh that acts as a blocking stencil. The fabric has to be placed on a flat surface. After the screen in located in the right place on top of the fabric, ink is poured horizontally on the screen, and a blade is then slid across the length of the screen, and back. This enables the ink to flow uniformly within the mesh pattern on the screen, and no residues are left behind. Only the open mesh areas can transfer ink into the materials, and it’s possible to see the result instantaneously.

Also, any kind of flat surface can be printed, starting with natural fiber fabrics to canvases, and even knits.

Erica Tanov's totes being silk-screened

Take a look from the Hermès demonstrations in San Francisco, and Erica Tanov’s unique tote designs and production.

Final Tote

Hermès printing demonstration

Erica Tanov's images via http://ericatanov.blogspot.com/

Erica Tanov Collaborates With Paper Artist Emily Payne

It's hard not to fall in love with the seamless collaboration between fashion designer Erica Tanov (feature coming soon!) and artist, and paper specialist Emily Payne.

That's when craft enables you to turn simple objects into wonderful, dreamy pieces.

Paynes piece will be showcased at Tanov's Berkeley store until January 6th!

See for yourself!

Erica Tanov / Emily Payne from Emily Payne on Vimeo.

Satya Twena Creates Lush Hats!

If the art of dressing up our own bodies is a matter of countless conversations, then imagine the fuss that comes with wearing objects on top of our heads. We are here to talk about some headpieces that have actual heads turning around in the streets – Satya Twena collection of women’s hats. 

Satya Twena is not the kind of designer that used to create paper and flower hats ever since she was a kid. She is the kind of creative persona that only after growing up discovered a way of expressing her creative anxiety through design. (Actually, some of the most interesting designers we know didn’t know that they would turn out finding their true passion in fashion and accessories design). This former interior designer was never a stranger to the art world, but she discovered her love of designing hats by chance, taking an evening class at FIT in millinery in 2009.

Pooka Hat

Satya Twena New Campaign

Shortly afterwards Twena’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which resulted in the initiation of her now lauded millinery career, as well as the realization that she wanted to live every day to the fullest. What started as a hobby turned out to be a way of expressing her own creative self, as told by the designer in an e-mail interview we conducted last month. “I just had all these energy and didn’t know how to release it… it just ended up being creating energy.” (see Jacob’s Creek True Character Series).

Twena business grew rapidly from making hats and caps for her mother, to receiving orders from friends, family, and word of mouth clients. Twena is one of the fewcouture milliners based in New York City. She sells to a range of upscale boutiques and department stores, and also enables customers to shop from her own e-commerce site and have costum hats made personally! Talk about small luxuries.

In ST’s collection there is a hat for every kind of woman – and a range that goes from casual to black-tie occasions, with new takes on felt fedoras, floppy wide brim chapeaus, 20s-inspired cloches, and equestrian riding hats. The designer describes her line as “feminine with a hint of vintage and a dash of sexiness,” which is a product of her use of deep jewel tones, high quality materials and sweet elements, such as pearl pins, and a flower or ribbon here and there.

Satya Twen wearing her own design

Twena has kept her business small and intimate. Every hat she produces is made by hand in New York, and although she offers ready-to-wear pieces, the designer continues to design custom hats. “My focus is on quality, longevity and art, not quantity.” Twena has become a master in the art form of transforming a person’s look and style with a single piece. “Also, being able to see and work with the craftsman making your hats – that is true luxury,” says the designer.

Through her craft, not only has Twena found who she is, but she has also strived to reflect her client’s personality through her designs. “What differentiates me and my work is my ability to see past the physical and tap into my client’s character and desires to create wearable art.”

Twena’s newest endeavor is ST’s sister company Discover Pique, a hosiery line that acts as a “monthly curated hosiery subscription.” Sounds like the perfect compliment to the ST woman. Just take feminine classics like a back seam, fine dots, and lacy tights, and top any getup with one of her lush hats!

Jacobs Creek Presents True Character Series – Satya Tweena from Soap Creative on Vimeo.

Images Courtesy of Satya Twena