No Serial Number Spring 2016 PREVIEW

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

An Eclectic Lifestyle Magazine about Eco-Conscious and Heritage Craft, Design & Fashion

Susanna Bauer:

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AG A Z I

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One Tailor, Sixty Years of History: Angelo Inglese

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A Story About Plant Fibres and Sustainable Communities in Brazil

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Capturing Nature in the Smallest Details

Dear readers, Welcome to our fourth edition of No Serial Number. We cannot believe that we are already celebrating the magazine’s first year! We are really pleased that our audience is steadily and consistently growing, so a warm welcome to all our new readers as well as those who have been following us since the beginning.

With this issue we again wish to explore sustainable realities across different regions around the world. Our guest of honour is Susan Bauer who creates unique and fascinating compositions combining natural materials as delicate as leaves with a traditional craft like crochet.

We also visited a very vibrant brand based in Australia that creates buoyant designs with a strong determination to work exclusively with used fabrics.

We travelled to Brazil to learn about the recovery of the Tietê riverside in São Paulo with vaziopleno a project about sustainable architecture run by Taícia Marques. In Brazil we also spoke to Maria Miluzzi who talks with passion about her search for natural fibres in a mission to create a completely sustainable shoes.

For No Serial Number’s first anniversary, we decided to dedicate part of the content of this issue to our home country, a journey that took us across southern and central Italy looking for traditional and sustainable realities. We visited the region of Marche where we searched for the origins of Italian organic farming with

A caper bush (Capparis spinosa) at the entry of Gravina di Ginosa, Puglia

Errata Corrige: In the Winter Issue on page 6 in the first answer of the first column the word agreement should be garment

a family-run, world renowned organic pasta manufacturer, Girolomoni. We also visited the region of Puglia to meet tailor Angelo Inglese, now famous around the world, who told us about his efforts to revive traditional tailoring without ever giving in to the lure of industrial production. Angelo Inglese also works with other local realities, such as Pecore Attive who we write about in a separate article, “Pioneering Heritage in a Rural Town”. To celebrate this itinerary, we conclude with a rustic recipe (The Simplicity of Traditional Cuisine) and a travel diary of our walks immersed in the landscape of Puglia (Forests, Villages and Sea).

Remember to participate in our quarterly feedback competition at the end of the magazine for a chance to win a spring-inspired, naturally-dyed Egyptian cotton scarf!

We decided to celebrate this season with two spring outfits, thanks to the collaboration of designers Claire Couchman and Michela Pasini.

Warm wishes for a colourful spring,

No Serial Number Team

IN THE NEXT ISSUE Re-living the Arts and Crafts of the Stone Age A Shibori Workshop Upcycled High-end Fashion And much more…

Are you an artisan or designer working with eco-friendly, organic, locally sourced or recycled materials?

Do you run craft workshops?

Are you based in the UK or travel often to the UK? If you’d like to get involved in future events organized by No Serial Number, then contact Francesca: francesca@noserialnumber.com

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This is a quartely magazine that will be released on the following dates: Spring 23 March - Summer 23 June Autumn 23 September - Winter 23 December

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21 29 34

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TRADITIONAL TRADES AND CRAFTS THESE SHOES ARE WEAVED FOR WALKING: A Story About Plant Fibres and Sustainable Communities in Brazil PIONEERING HERITAGE IN A RURAL TOWN: From Dynamic Sheep to Fashion Education SUSANNA BAUER: Capturing Nature in the Smallest Details

SUSTAINABLE FASHION ONE TAILOR, SIXTY YEARS OF HISTORY: Angelo Inglese A FLAMBOYANT STYLE AND A MINIMALIST MESSAGE: the Fashion of Psychedelic Baglady OUR HAND-MADE AND ECO OUTFITS FOR SPRING 2016

HOME CHRONICLES BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY: the Glass is Always Full, One Half is Water, the Other is Air

KITCHEN CHRONICLES

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THE SIMPLICITY OF TRADITIONAL CUISINE: ‘Arracanate Anchovies’

MULTIFUNCTIONAL GARDEN TRACING THE ORIGINS OF ORGANIC FOOD IN ITALY: The Story of One Man who Dared to Become a Farmer

TRAVEL CHRONICLES FORESTS, VILLAGES AND SEA: an Early Spring in Gargano

DIARY OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS FROM THE EARTH TEXTILES EXHIBITION

CONTENTS REGULAR COLUMN

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5 EASY DIY FIXES TO UPDATE YOUR CLOTHES by Clotho* SPRING CLEAN YOUR WARDROBE by Love Your Clothes*

QUARTERLY COMPETITIONS CREDITS Editors and Creative Directors Alessandra Palange Francesca Palange Rosa Rossi Translations Fuschia Hutton Graphic Design Paolo Pero - pero@elzevira.com Cover Photo Art by Susanna Bauer Photography by art-photographers.co.uk Copyright All images and materials are copyright protected and are the property of their respective makers/ owners as detailed below.

These Shoes are Weaved for Walking Text by Maria Miluzzi Photography McDonough, William, Braungart, Michael and Crade to Crade Design Pioneering Heritage in a Rural Town Text by Filippo Clemente Photography by Filippo Clemente Susanna Bauer: Capturing Nature in the Smallest Details Interviewer Francesca Palange Photography by Susanna Bauer, Simon Cook, Adam Gibbard, Rebekah Taylor and art-photographers.co.uk One Tailor, Sixty Years of History: Angelo Inglese Text by Rosa Rossi Photography by Elia Palange A Flamboyant Style and a Minimalist Message Interviewer Francesca Palange Photography by Psychedelic Baglady Designer: Bryony Tulloh

Our Hand-made and Eco Outfits for Spring 2016 Photography by Mitchell Williams MW Portrait Photography

Model: Emily Savage Stylist: Francesca Palange Designer: Claire Couchman Photography by Urte Stelingyte Model: Catherine Barnes Stylist: Francesca Palange Interview by Rosa Rossi Designer/Artist: Michela Pasini Beyond Sustainability Text by Taícia Marques Photography by Taícia Marques The Simplicity of Traditional Cuisine Recipe by Maria Voto Preparation by Rosa Rossi Photography by Elia Palange Tracing the Origins of Organic Food in Italy Text by Rosa Rossi Photography by Elia Palange

Forests, Villages and Sea Text by Rosa Rossi Photography by Elia Palange

From the Earth Textiles Exhibition Text by Caroline Bell Photography by Caroline Bell, Jenny Leslie, Fabienne Dorsman Rey 5 Easy DIY Fixes to Update Your Clothes Text by Vivien Tang Phtography by Clotho London Spring Clean Your Wardrobe Text and Photography by Love Your Clothes

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

TRADITIONAL ARTS, TRADES & CRAFTS

Piracaia zil (SP), Bra

These Shoes are Weaved for Walking: A Story About Plant Fibres and Sustainable Communities in Brazil 4

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

MATERIALS AND PROPERTIES

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Material

Natural Use

Additional info

Latex - Rubber

Hevea Braziliensis

Renewable, organic

Banana fibre, jute, cot- Vegetable textiles. ton, corn fibre Corchorus capsularis = jute.

Recyclable, upcycling,

Fish Leather

Dyed natural leather

Upcycling

Bark, onion

For use as a natural dye for leather and textiles

Upcycling, renewable, organic

Urucum Seeds

Bixa Orellana For use as a natural dye, plant

Upcycling, renewable, organic

Material

Recycled Use

Additional info

Textiles

For the shoe uppers.

E.g. a skirt can become four pairs of shoes.

Upcycling. Reuse.

Corn fibre

For insoles. Maize corn fibre, natural waste.

Upcycling. Recycle

Tyres

For soles.

Upcycling. Recycle

Renewable

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Original Eco Friendly Hand Painted Silk Designs Affordable Fashion for Everyone Special 10% Introductory Discount Use Code NONUMBER16

put a spring in your step

www.po-zu.com

shoes w ith a good sole

When you come to shop 1st time

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

TRADITIONAL ARTS, TRADES & CRAFTS

Pioneering Heritage in a Rural Town: From Dynamic Sheep to Fashion Education , Altamura Bari, Italy

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rom the heart of Puglia, on the Altopiano delle Murge (located inland within the Province of Bari), came an ambitious entrepreneurial idea intended to give economic and social value to what was once an important resource within the region; sheep’s wool.

whose area boasted a long and great sheep rearing tradition which is now in decline, entered an ambitious project into the contest: ‘Joint action to develop the land and increase social inclusion through the creation of a microsupply chain of sheep’s wool native to Puglia’.

During the course of the twentieth century, as synthetic fibres asserted themselves both within the clothing sector and mattress making industry, wool gradually and inexorably lost its economic value to such an extent that it became a problem. In the words of waste disposal, it became a `special non-hazardous waste’. This brought about profound social, working and economic transformations, which disrupted the very core of the region.

It was the winning project. The issues faced during the research phase are of great importance.

The idea that the sector could possibly be revived, from sheep husbandry to using the material itself, arose within a research project financed by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies: ‘La valorizzazione delle razze ovine autoctone dell’Italia meridionale continentale’ (Development of ovine breeds indigenous to continental southern Italy).

The project went from research phase to realisation thanks to a contest run by the region of Puglia (Acting on Principles 2010 - Young ideas for a better Puglia), and its Bubbling Spirits initiative, Puglia’s Youth Politics programme. By financing projects which have been devised and carried out by the young people themselves, this programme was intended to encourage young ‘Pugliesi’ to lead an active life and take an interest in the region’s development

Pecore Attive (Dynamic Sheep), founded by four young people from Altamura in 2010, and 10

The project devised by Pecore Attive - whose name acknowledges the amusing juxtaposition of sheep slowly nibbling the pastures and the dynamism of those who want to actively revive an interest in wool and associated activities - shifted attention from the research phase to implementation. Once they had identified a need for a decisive shift in the management of local resources (or, rather, rescuing it from the abandonment and impoverishment in which it had languished for entire decades), they tried to encourage breeders to fill the fields once again, bringing back the rearing of two breeds which were in danger of extinction; the Gentile di Puglia (Merino of the South) and the Altamurana sheep (the `Moscia’ of Puglia).

Gentile di Puglia was a rather well-known breed for the fineness of its wool that was spun and woven on hand looms.

Moscia’ (so-called ‘softie’ for its long white fleece) was considered one of the three best Italian wools for mattress making.

Innovation from tradition In order to arrive at the operational phase, Pecore Attive was influenced by two seemingly contradictory parts; from one side the revival of traditions, including domestic customs, and on the other side innovation.

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TRADITIONAL ARTS, TRADES & CRAFTS

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

Susanna Bauer: Capturing Nature in the Smallest Details

S

usanna Bauer is a renowned artist based in the UK, her inspirational work draws from a variety of fields. She uses traditional techniques to create a very contemporary form of art, which instantly amazes the onlooker. The painstaking work of crocheting leaves involves extreme skill and patience. The message that comes across not only encompasses nature as a whole but also each individual life story; it represents the ephemeral yet enduring character of life itself.

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How would you like to introduce yourself?

,

Cornwall UK

ing from my grandmother who was a seamstress. I also always felt attracted to small-scale work; I reI was born in the South of Germany member making drawings with where I have lived until 1996. I have very high detail and constructgrown up on the edge of small towns, ing little landscapes and villages close to woods, fields and rivers and into matchboxes using tweezers. not far from the mountains and na- After spending many years in Lonture always played a part in my child- don I now live in South-West Cornhood. At school I had a great interest wall with my family (I have a six years in biology and microscopy devel- old son) and life feels a little bit like oping an awareness of what can be in my childhood again, except that found in the natural world around me. mountains have been swapped for I have also always made things the sea. and have always been drawn to art and craft. I learned to knit and crochet in primary school and sew-

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Ginosa, Italy Taranto,

One Tailor, Sixty Years of History:

Angelo Inglese 20

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the current workshop, talking all the way about training and the difficulties in finding craftspeople of the calibre needed for production and meeting the demands of their loyal customers. Angelo Inglese explains that his experience of working with young college-trained people, even those trained to a high level, has not been successful; he often finds those who think that they know everything because they learned to sketch designs but, sadly, it is very difficult to find someone who is comfortable with a needle and scissors in hand, or confident in front of a traditional sewing machine.

The space given over to the work-

shop is modern, perfectly organised; the craftsmen are engrossed in their work. Some of them select the fabric, some cut, some carefully iron and others sew at the machine. The atmosphere is one of tranquillity, harmony and expertise. It is clear that there is enough space and work for more people.

There is no doubt that the restoration and opening of the academy must happen.

The hours have flown by. As we say our goodbyes there is one thing certain; when the work is complete, I will be back to report on the conclusion of this incredible challenge.

I can already picture the ancient rooms, perfectly refurbished in keeping with its history and traditions, full of life in perfectly organised spaces, the craftspeople at work amidst a coming and going of people, customers and tourists together, a perfect fusion of sartorial tourism, conceived and carried out

by Angelo Inglese.

Follow Angelo Inglese on Twitter: @IngleseSartoria Follow Rosa on Instagram: @rrpalange

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Creative Textiles with Workshops

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Norfolk Coast - UK / Essaouira - Morocco

1 – 2 day workshops 7 day creative experiences - natural dyeing - stitch - weave

- felt making - local materials - sustainable processes www.avivaleigh.com

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Do you run a business or an organization with a commitment to social, environmental and ethical responsibility?

Contact: Francesca@noserialnumber.com to receive a rate card and information pack

A Flamboyant Style and a Minimalist Message: the Fashion of Psychedelic Baglady

y, Byron Ba th (New Sou Wales), Australia

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

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“I feel we have a big message to share and as we all live in a disposable society, ethically I feel up-cycling has an extremely important role in the future of retail.”

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ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

Send us pictures of your treasured vintage items with a brief description of what they mean to you here www.noserialnumber.com/yourvintagetreasures .

We’ll select a few and showcase them together with many others in a blog article!

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HOME CHRONICLES

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Beyond Sustainability: the Glass is Always Full, One Half is Water, the Other is Air

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aziopleno (literally “empty and full”) has always been a part of me. It took shape slowly, and, with help, has now become a reality.

I remember how as I child I would play in the streets, barefoot in the rain, tracing a possible world on the ground with chalk.

I remember when I was a teenager and my sister began her studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism and I began to get an understanding of the architect profession. I remember during a conversation one day, my sister asked me, ‘and you, what do you want to do when you grow up?’. I responded that I had no idea, but that if I became an architect, I would design an amazing building which would not

, São Paulo Brazil

have air conditioning, but instead the walls would be covered in plants and somehow, it would be cool in summer and warm in winter.

I remember drawing this imaginary building in the air with my hands as I described it and we burst out laughing together.

I was 13, it was the beginning of the nineties and I had no idea what sustainability was. Of course, I was not a visionary but I really liked being in contact with the ‘great outdoors’, and I was attracted to the idea that a building is part of a wider context and has the ability to keep us in contact with forces of nature, people and the city. I have always been more attracted to simple and immaterial things than principles and ideologies. Perhaps I have a gene that makes me this way!

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KITCHEN CHRONICLES

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

The Simplicity of Traditional Cuisine: ‘Arracanate Anchovies’

Vico del Gargano, aly Puglia, It

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astronomy and food can be wonderfully diverse. Because, despite the depressing and monotonous food that we see in our fast food outlets and on our supermarket shelves, when we take a look at traditional cookery we can see such enormous variety. Each place, in fact, each home, has its own traditions, and its own reasons for upholding them.

In spite of globalisation and the uniformity that it has thrust upon us, gastronomic variety still thrives to this day in those places where tradition still has a foothold, in places where there are still those who want a piece of the pie and to pick up the torch of tradition.

It is discovering these traditions that makes travelling so special. When travelling, from the moment that we sit down to eat our first meal, it is fascinating to try and find out about and discover the local delicacies and specialities. Of course it’s not always that easy, and sometimes even impossible.

To some extent it is always necessary to temporarily step out of our comfort zone.

There are some places where it is easier to discover new things, and times when one is lucky enough to have an excellent host and guide as we set out to discover the flavours of the past.

Our trip to Gargano, in the Italian region of Puglia, was one of pure discovery.

Our exceptional host, Maria Voto, the weaver who has brought the ancient traditions of the women of Gargano to life on her loom, proved to be an unequalled guide to the region’s culinary traditions. She gave us excellent advice on where we could still find authentic local flavours, and also shared with us a traditional family recipe; ‘Arracanate Anchovies’. Arracanate comes from the name used for oregano in the local dialect, and the dish’s name could be translated as ‘oregano infused anchovies’. Despite the origin of the name, parsley has long been used in place of oregano’s stronger flavour.

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THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL GARDEN

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

Tracing the Origins of Organic Food in Italy: The Story of One Man who Dared to Become a Farmer Piano, Isola del aly t Marche, I

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ur trip up Montebello hill (Isola del Piano, Urbino) is an unparalleled adventure.

In fact, the name - which means ‘beautiful mountain’ in Italian - has more than forty years’ worth of stories behind it.

This is the personal story of Gino Girolomoni, who chose to become a farmer when everyone else wanted to leave the countryside. He was Italy’s organic pioneer at a time when it seemed that the only way to progress was to follow the industrial farming model and use synthetic chemical substances. Added to this, despite his technical education, he was a highly cultured man gifted at bringing groups of people together and motivated by a respect for nature, which was accompanied by his deep spirituality.

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This is the story of a region; the Italian Apennine Mountains, defined by mass migration to the coast, where industry is concentrated, coupled with the slow decline of traditional activities, farming and sheep rearing.

This is the cultural story of at least two decades (the ‘70s and ‘80s) when, in complete contrast to the thinking of the day, people started to criticise the technological and industrial model that was starting to force its way through, predicting ominous developments that few wanted or were able to see - and which we all live with today as the world suffers, tormented by its ruin.

This is the story of a brand, Alce Nero (Black Elk in English), which took its name from a shaman of the Oglala tribe (Lakota-Sioux) who gave up his

life to defend the native American people of North America. John G. Neihardt created a very long account of Black Elk which in the sixties became cult reading for an entire generation (Black Elk speaks. Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Ogala Sioux,1960).

The brand was abandoned in 2004 in order to save both the cooperative and its founding partners’ core values, a painful decision. The Alce Nero brand was replaced first by Montebello, and then definitively by Girolomoni, when Gino passed away.

This is the story of a family; Gino, Tullia and their three children, who, when their parents passed away prematurely just a few years apart, now continue the cooperative’s various activities. The cooperative’s main product is the pasta which is used in its entire product line and is mainly distributed abroad (Germany, USA, France, Japan and many other countries).

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We arrive in Montebello one Thursday evening, with a meeting set for the following morning. The guest house, which is managed by Gino and Tullia’s youngest daughter, Maria, offers accommodation in the monastery and the inn; we have opted to stay in the monastery. We arrive on the road which bends and curves upwards, climbing up the hill to a backdrop of stunning views typical to this part of the Marche region, knowing that there will be someone to welcome us at the monastery. The apprehension we have at the thought of sleeping somewhere completely isolated soon dissipates when we realise that the large and almost completely renovated building is the family home.

The cloisters, long corridors, reception rooms, a part of which is given over to the Museum of Peasant Farming Culture on the ground floor, and the long corridors which the rooms on the top floor lead off from, make it easy to imagine the love that Tullia and Gino Girolomoni put into choosing this place for their quarrels, reflections and prayers.

The next morning, we meet in a large, simply furnished room with a large table and a series of ‘historical’ posters that are testament to various moments in the cooperative’s long struggle to first get started and then keep itself going amidst all kinds of difficulties when - traditional farming having been all but destroyed - no one was interested in organic farming and needless to say, no one had yet thought about regulating the use of chemicals in farming.

The editing team of No Serial Number find ourselves sat around the table with two other families who want to find out more about the enterprise.

Here to tell the story is one of the nine founding partners, who, in a notary’s office in Fossombrone, each put in 5,000 lire (five euros in today’s money, but back then a considerable sum) to get the cooperative up and

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running. Daniele Garota is a graduate of the Institute of Art, a bit younger than Gino, who advised the young Daniele to become a restorer so that he could work on the estate.

Once he has the attention of all those present, including a child of perhaps eight or nine who doesn’t miss a beat of the conversation, and is the first to ask questions, Daniele recalls the story of Gino and his companions.

The story unwinds through the years.

It was Gino who, after his mother and younger siblings tragically died, was sent away to boarding school to study and easily won a place at a school in Switzerland, but felt a strong calling to return to his native land where, as a small child, he had known the solidarity that is typical of the rural world from which he came; It was Gino who had the idea of bringing life back to these magnificent places through agriculture, a method of farming that respected the land and its offerings without using substances and methods which the modern world wanted to force on it; It was Gino who become mayor of Isola sul Piano, the town at the foot of the hill where he was born; It was Gino who, with his training as a technical expert, his desire to become a farmer and his passion for books, managed to attract important personalities from the world of culture to his enterprise; It was Gino who took on the challenge of renovating Montebello monastery, which had been reduced to a wreck (rented along with part of the land), and brought his wife Tullia and their first child to live in the only usable room - where we are now sat.

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The factory is a building given over to all phases of pasta making, from the flour to the packaging, demonstrating that countryside and its apparent opposite, industry, can work together in a way that is respectful and non-invasive The cooperative took off, the monastery became a place for meeting, studying and welcoming family, which was expanded to include friends, intellectuals and guests.

There were difficulties in launching

the product (the afore mentioned organic pasta) onto a market full of snacks and preservative-laden products, there were disappointments, moments of financial strife.

Then there was the return to busi-

ness after the separation from Alce Nero and the success of the new brand, Montebello, the construction of a pasta factory on the hill - which proves that isolated hilly areas can be landmarks and not wastelands.

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Then came international success and the creation of a foundation to look after the cultural aspect - the written heritage, conventions, and a magazine, Mediterraneo. Daniele’s story continues, perhaps longer than usual.

We are an attentive crowd who listen, ask questions and reflect; it becomes emotional at times.

An atmosphere that Gino would surely have appreciated.

The talk is concluded with a walk that take us along a dirt track, with

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the fields on one side and the woods where wild cows roam freely on the other, to the pasta factory. The factory is a building given over to all phases of pasta making, from the flour to the packaging (you can tell where the packets will go from the different languages on them), demonstrating that countryside and its apparent opposite, industry, can work together in a way that is respectful and noninvasive.

We stay for the next two days as guests of the monastery (where we sleep) and the inn (where we eat food

with zero food miles of course!). We feel almost as though we are guests of the Girolomoni family themselves when everyone - siblings, wives, children - gathers around the long table after an intense day at work, each together having fulfilled their role in continuing Papà Gino and Mamma Tullia’s dream, in the best way possible.

Follow Rosa on Instagram: @rrpalange Contact Girolomoni: info@girolomoni.it

Forests, Villages and Sea: An Early Spring in Gargano

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he name Gargano for me is synonymous with sea, summer, sun and islands. But right now it’s mid-February, and although the weather can’t seem to make up its mind, it’s not cold. We have come here for a number of reasons, all of them slightly unusual; we have come to see a tree, a forest and some tapestries. We start on our journey, which begins in Vico del Gargano.

At our first stop, we are greeted by Maria Voto’s looms in her studio just off the main thoroughfare.

The studio overflows with threads, fabrics, finished works, unfinished works, antique garments and recently finished pieces which reference the traditional patterns which have been created for centuries in Gargano’s homes. It is a world ended in the fifties and to which Maria Voto is our precious guide. The tapestries alone are worth a visit.

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We decide that our route will depart from the very heart of the town itself, Corso Umberto, taking note of a traditional event that happens at the time we plan to visit, and may grant us time for fun and reflection. The celebration in honour of Saint Valentine, chosen as the patron saint of Vico del Gargano in 1619, is a religious festival which has its roots in farming and the weather; a capable saint was needed to protect the citrus groves - vast swathes of orange and lemon trees - which bear their aromatic fruit this time of year and whose harvest is threatened by February’s sudden frosts. Today the pagan roots of this festival, which originated as a ritual to appease the gods as winter turned into spring, are intertwined with religion, folklore and consumerism.

Decorations of oranges, lemons, laurel and mimosa are hung along the procession route.

To experience this event for ourselves, we set off into Vico del Gar-

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DIARY OF FORTHCOMING EVENTS

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2016

From The Earth Textiles 1-26 June 2016 Herfordshire, UK

From the Earth Textiles is an event that aims to promote ethical practices in the field of textile art in its broadest sense. It comprises an exhibition to be held at the Mardleybury Gallery, Datchworth Herts, which will run from the 1st of June 2016 to the 26th of June 2016 along with a series of workshops which will be held at nearby ArtVanGo in Knebworth. These will be running from the 10th of June to the end of the month. There will also be a separate tutors exhibition held within the gallery at ArtVanGo so for anyone with an interest in natural processes in textiles, Herfordshire is the place to be in June.

The concept of From the Earth is the brainchild of Jenny Leslie and Caroline Bell, textile artists who both use natural processes in their work albeit in different ways and came about in a discussion about an exhibition entitled From the Inside Out in the States in 2014 featuring a number of internationally renowned artists and how both of us would have loved to have viewed it. The conversation then turned towards how we could create our own event here in the UK albeit with a slightly different format and From the Earth was born.

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We decided from the outset that the exhibition would be an inclusive one. We wanted to showcase the work of a whole variety of artists working in the field. We therefore put out a call for artists last year. The closing date was January 2016. At the time of writing we are selecting works from the submissions received. We are hoping that the exhibit will reflect a whole range of practices and techniques both in 2D and 3D. Alongside these works there will be works by India Flint, Alice Fox, Fabienne Dorsman Rey, all well known in their field, and of course ourselves.

In terms of the location of the events, we thought long and hard about this. We felt it needed to be fairly central in the UK with ideally a good link from London, UK. We also needed good workshop facilities either on site or nearby. We decided on Hertfordshire, not only because it is where Jenny lives but also because of the excellent rail links and the proximity of the M1.The Mardleybury Gallery seemed ideal as a venue for the exhibition with its rural location and its rustic charm (it is situated in an old barn) and with ArtVanGo on board for the workshops nearby, it seemed perfect. For anyone who doesn’t know about ArtVanGo, they have a shop with a veritable treasure trove of art and textile materials on sale with a gallery and workshop behind and well worth a visit.

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Spring Clean Your Wardrobe: New season, New you It’s the perfect time of year for a spring clean and your wardrobe is a great place to start.

We don’t claim to be magicians, but… we’ve got a sneaky suspicion that you could conjure up at least 5 brand new ‘this season’ outfits from your current wardrobe and they won’t cost you a thing either.

Amazing!

The trick is to do a spot of wardrobe springcleaning. You’ll unveil things you probably haven’t seen in a while, reveal tops that have been hiding on hangers for months and have all the things you need to create style savvy new outfits, as if you’ve just bought them from a shop.

We’re here to help you love your clothes a little bit more so you can look and feel good whilst taking care of the environment too.

How to spring clean your wardrobe 1. Empty entire contents onto your bed, make a cup of tea (optional) 2. Put clothes, jewellery, underwear, shoes etc. into piles of: Still wear it Doesn’t fit anymore

Can’t bear to throw it out Never going to wear it again 3. ‘Still wear it’ pile Put back onto hangers, fold neatly and tidy away (keeping things neat helps clothes look better for longer) 4. ‘Doesn’t fit anymore’ pile Don’t wait to lose weight/ change body shape/ for a miracle Can you think of a friend or relative who would like it?

Could you do a clothes swap with someone?

Could you sell it online and make a bit of money?

Give it to charity If you’re fundraising for a local school, club or organisation contact textile recycling companies who can arrange collections and help raise money for your cause 5. ‘Can’t bear to throw it out’ pile If it’s a cherished item with fond memories, make sure it is cleaned and wrapped carefully, kept dry and stored in a box away from your wardrobe to give you extra space Give it to a charity you feel strongly about knowing you’ve done a good thing and someone else will put it to good use 6. ‘Never going to wear it again’ pile If you don’t like it, don’t have it taking up space in your wardrobe – there’s probably someone else out there who would love it, a friend or relative perhaps?

Take a photo of it on your smartphone and you can instantly upload it to one of the many online selling sites. Kerching!

Would a friend be prepared to swap it for that gorgeous top you’ve spied in their

wardrobe? Well, if you don’t ask, you don’t get do you?!

Give it to a worthy cause of your choice and donate it to charity Past its best? Even clothes that are worn out, stained or ripped can still live on in other guises. Old pants, bobbly jumpers, threadbare socks – you name it, can all be recycled. By shredding the clothes the fibres can be turned into speakers and industrial rags! If you are in the UK, use our postcode locator to find out more about doorstep clothing collections and clothing banks near you. If you are in another country, then look for a recycling bank near you.

7. Don’t forget to spring clean your drawers as well!

For more tips on making the most of your wardrobe visit the Love Your Clothes website at www.loveyourclothes.org.uk

Love Your Clothes is a consumer campaign to help reduce the impact of clothing across the UK. It does this by helping people change the way they buy, use and dispose of clothes.

Visit the website for tips and ideas on fixing, upcycling and caring for your clothes at: http://www.loveyourclothes.org.uk @loveyourclothes / https://www.facebook. com/LoveYourClothesUK

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Are you an artisan or designer working with traditional techniques and/or eco-friendly, organic, locally sourced or recycled materials?

Do you have a small-scale production? Are you in London (UK)?

Or would you be interested in travelling to London to participate at trading/design shows?

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THESE QUESTIONS please contact Francesca: francesca@noserialnumber.com www.noserialnumber.com