In our September/October issue, we meet makers partnering with nature in fascinating ways.
Japanese artist Kazuhito Takadoi tells us about weaving with harvested grasses and branches, German wood turner Ernst Gamperl discusses his ten-year tribute to one gargantuan oak tree, and we discover a new breed of designers using biomaterials to grow textiles for the wardrobe of the future.
Meanwhile, to mark the 10th anniversary of the British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent, Crafts asked V&A director Tristram Hunt to assess the revival of ceramics in the city, the challenges the industry still faces and what should happen next. Elsewhere, our columnists bring marginalised female makers into the spotlight, with Glenn Adamson arguing for the importance of women-only exhibitions and Tanya Harrod rewriting a historical wrong. Stories about women’s labour, sexuality and migration are also brought into sharp relief in a dazzling series of textile photograms.
Crafts’ focus turns to new talent in this issue too. We bring you our edit of the year’s most promising graduates – the makers who are breathing new life into materials and processes, while rewriting conventions. Finally, see how Hella Jongerius has turned a Paris landmark into a giant loom and a catch a showcase of African blacksmithing on its world tour.