Peace Invitation

What is your vision of textile futures?
Textiles have always played a major role in our lives, be it in how we interact with them or in the impact their production has on our environment. As a society we are responsible for shaping our own future and I believe that textiles can be an instrument in this. We can apply older textile traditions to future production in order to come up with sustainable solutions that promote local craft and are “green”.

What is your project about?
‘Peace invitation’ combines traditional craft skills and new design approaches. It engages with modern technologies and industries in order to bring an attractive and modern look for the consumers to make their homes green. Through my design collection I wish to create opportunities for people to support sustainability, aiming for a better world.

What inspires you?
Colour and nature.

Why are you doing this project? What does it mean to you?
Someone very special in my life once told me: ‘If we can’t make the world better, at least we have to stop destroying it, that is our first responsibility’. He also said ‘we can make heaven in a desert...’ My project has been motivated by these words. I believe we must take responsibility for our actions and the effect those have on our environment

What is ‘future’ about it?
We can only create our future in the present, by the way we choose to live.

Which materials and technologies have you used?
Designing and manipulating recycled and second-hand carpets, locally hand-made felt form 100% wool, using different processes such as heat-transfer printing, laser-cutting and etching, dying with eco-dyes and burning.

Setareh Arefi
Setareh received her BA in textile design from Jahad University, Iran, in 2004. During her studies she expanded her knowledge of design through engaging with different design departments in Italy and Iran. After graduation, Setareh decided to join MA Textile Futures course to gain a deeper understanding and skills of what textiles can do for the future.

Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Mr Mike Halliwell from Interface Company and to my family and friends for all of their support and care.