by Maria Rodrigues

I’ve always been interested in fabric so I was very excited to visit the Textile Museum of Toronto, located on Centre Avenue in the downtown core.

There are two floors, chocked full of exhibits that will even fascinate those who have no interest in fabric.   There is a small exhibit of sample making and embroidery, done by young girls who recorded their feelings thorough this type of work. One sample was made in 1823 by an eleven-year-old (see image below).

Image: Maria Rodrigues © 2008 Trips with Kids

The Permanent Collection Gallery is on that floor as well. In that gallery you will see the art of cutting through various samples of clothing.  It was interesting to see how the cut of trousers differs from country to country.  There are also exhibits of silk. There is an impressive robe (mangpao)  of silk satin with embroidered metal thread made in the late 19th century in Asia.

Fibrespace is a hands-on gallery.  You’ll see the various stages of plastic bottles being made into fibres and how animals, like sheep, silk worms and Alpaca, produce fibres for textiles.

Did you know fibres are made from plants too? Cotton, Hemp, Nettlebark from Nepal and Flax Flower are all fibre-producing plants.  The neat thing is that you can touch all the samples displayed.

On the third floor is the exhibit called When Women Rule The World: Judy Chicago in Thread.  Its purpose is to make you think of the question: What if women ruled the world?

It contains artwork from various female artists with hand-made beading, painting, appliqué work, quilting and embroidery.  There is an impressive piece – a large tapestry – named The Fall, done in 1993. This massive work, made of wool and silk, was woven by Audrey Cowan.  This exhibit will be running until August 2009.

Although small, this museum gives a whole new meaning to the word textile and it will certainly give you a different perspective on all the different fabrics you deal with on a daily basis whether it’s the clothing on your back or the plush carpet in your house.

For more information:  Textile Museum of Toronto