The Egyptian Environment as an Inspiring Source for The Design of Handcrafted Textile Fabrics, Executed in a Tapestry Style (Applied on Women’s Clothes)

Abstract

The environment affected plastic arts in general, and textile design in particular, and environmental influences were reflected in techniques, materials and tools, as well as textile designs inspired by the elements in the surrounding environment.The research focused on creating textile designs inspired by the surrounding environment, and implementing them in a manual tapestry method, through the use of a frame loom, and exposure to the style of wefts that are not extended on a simple loom, in addition to the use of various materials and traditional applied methods, to achieve the artistic vision of the work and produce it in an innovative way, with the aim of Creating textile designs from the environment, and producing fabrics with high aesthetic values in the style of hand tapestry, using a frame loom, as well as raising the capabilities of designers to make handwoven textiles, and employing them as added textile pieces for women's clothing.Through the course of the course "Environmental Studies and Sciences", the third year - (Higher Institute of Applied Arts - 6th of October), the researcher introduced the students to the concept of the environment and its relationship with the artist, and how to benefit from the surrounding environment in the field of textile design. Through making designs inspired by the environment and heritage, which are suitable for implementation as textile pieces with aesthetic values, using the tapestry method and materials from the environment, and students weave their designs on hand looms.It was taken into account in the designs that the source of inspiration is nature or Egyptian heritage, as well as the use of shading and highlighting it through the dark and light areas of the textile pieces, and highlighting the details through the gradations of color and the diversity of the threads used.The research reached the possibility of developing handmade textile pieces executed in the manual tapestry method, by creating artistic effects using natural and synthetic threads, in addition to some textile compositions and other techniques, with the aim of creating new artistic effects on the structural design of textile pieces.

Keywords

• the environment
• tapestry
• tapestries