Textile Practices - A Women’s Realm

Textile Practices – A Women’s Realm, published by Arnoldsche Art Publishers, shines a light on a field of design that has far too often remained in the background: textiles. Stephanie Kahnau presents 40 influential textile designers from the 20th and 21st centuries, each bringing a distinctive perspective and artistic language that has shaped the evolution of contemporary textile craft.

The book opens a captivating window into the world of textiles and materials, showing how forms built from a single thread can unfold into expansive structures that speak to both function and beauty. With its rich visuals and thoughtful storytelling, Textile Practices – A Women’s Realm is an inspiring read for anyone fascinated by the narratives behind craft, materials, and design.

Textiles are an integral part of our daily lives, and designing them is still a typically female métier. In this illustrated publication, Stephanie Kahnau presents 40 female textile designers of the 20th and 21st centuries and their outstanding and individual approaches to their medium. The stances presented grant access to the concept, technique, and function of textiles from different positions. For textile practices can take many forms: from a single “line”— the thread — structures ranging from flat to expansive emerge. Not only do they embrace our bodies, protect and clothe them; our bodies also embrace them: we become absorbed in their structured spaces and immerse ourselves in their visual appearance.