Modern Fabric: Twenty-Five Designers on Their Inspiration and Craft

by Abby Gilchrist, Amelia Poole

Step inside the studios of today's modern fabric design stars from around the world. From the bold florals of Kaffe Fassett to the subtle patterning of Naomi Ito to the retro style of design collective Ruby Star Society, Modern Fabric features a sophisticated, eclectic group of designers working in an exciting variety of techniques.

Engaging essays explore each designer's life in education, design beginnings, creative process, dreams, and how they run their businesses. Hundreds of color photographs offer endless inspiration, showing studio spaces, process, textile samples, and products made from the gorgeous fabrics featured in the book. Modern Fabric is an ideal resource for sewers, quilters, crafters, designers, and all those who aspire to a fun, color-filled, modern lifestyle.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 3, 2020

Reviews

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: You will buy fabric.

[Giselle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy style, pattern , color and have a fabric stash, (even if you don't!) you will enjoy this book. There are 25 designers represented with descriptions of where and how they create. Each has different techniques they use and have different types of inspiration that motivate them. They are from all over the world and the photographs are well done and beautiful. There are so many great fabrics......

There is a nice bibliography to reference and help you add to your stash:).

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is something like a rollcall for big names in fabric crafts (including some of the pattern designers featured in samples). As someone who always has crafty ideas rolling around in my head, it was more inspiring to read about these folks' journeys than I expected. I don't know if I'll ever want/be able/try to figure out how to monetize making, but this is a nice survey of paths to doing so.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous art book

This book showcases twenty-five modern fabric designers. We learn about how they started, what inspires them, and where they live around the world. Working with neutrals to the brightest of colors, we meet fascinating artists. Many are my favorite fabric designers, but I also met designers that I wasn't familiar with that are destined to become favorites. This book is a must read.

[Sophia Luu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about everyone's backgrounds and entrance into the textile design field. It was also interesting to learn about their design processes, respect for textiles, and semi-spiritual practice of creating. I would have enjoyed to read about more modern textile designers from Asia, South America, and Africa.

[Kathleen Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the design process and some interesting biographical vignettes. Lots of pages on the Cotton and Steel team both as a group and individuals. Wouldchave likes little more depth into the production steps in bringing fabric to market.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I primarily leafed through it. I ranged from jealousy to not caring. :-)

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an apparel designer who painted pattern designs many years ago (with gauche- no technology,) I really loved this book. Inspiring- generous-diverse. Wonderful photographs. A real treat.

[MaryBeth Nolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic and beautiful book! I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about many of the designers I see through Instagram and in fabric shops!

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to own this book.