#153: The Provenance of Materials and Techniques – Shams with Allie Davis

Check Your Thread

Are you ready for a bit of a shake up this week? We have a guest host for this episode: we’re in the safe hands of regular guest Shams el-Din Rogers, and of course she’s presented us with an incredible conversation. Shams is talking to Toronto-based textile artist and mending workshop facilitator, Allie Davis. They have a fascinating discussion about whether it’s cultural appropriation or appreciation to teach techniques from a culture that is not your own. Plus, they explore the benefits and joys of working with materials that have had another life before you got hold of them…

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Find Shams el-Din Rogers on Instagram @shamseldinrogers.

Follow Allie Davis on Instagram @witchdyes and check out their website for dates of upcoming workshops dates and locations.

Listen to her on previous episodes of CYT:

• Ep. #32: Textile Activism with Shams el–Din Rogers
• Ep. #49: Sewing as Art and Political Action with Shams el–Din Rogers
• Ep. #77: Stashes and Spaces with Shams el–Din Rogers
• Ep. #81: Travel, Sustainability and Sewing with Shams el-Din Rogers
• Ep. #142: Values Based Spending and Making with Shams el-Din Rogers

Allie took a Domestika class called Introduction to Japanese Sashiko Stitching led by artist Atsushi Futatsuya (@sashikostory on Instagram).

Allie also took a clone-your-clothes workshop with Camilla Salcedo (@lil_arepa on Instagram).

Shams and Camilla are part of a creative re-use collective called Works in Progress Toronto.

The Textile Museum of Canada, based in Toronto, host a reuse program through which you can purchase pre-owned fabric.

Allie has also purchased pre-owned fabrics from Lucky Deluxe Fabrics.

‘Wild Color’ is a book by Jenny Dean about natural dyeing: