TCD Chair attends two textiles events in China

16 Apr 2011    

TCD Chair Michael James with Prof. Tian Qing and Quiltmania Magazine editor Carole Veillon

TCD department chair Michael James recently returned from Beijing, China, where he was invited as the keynote speaker at the 11th International Textile and Quilt Festival sponsored by the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University.  James spoke on "Teaching from the International Quilt Study & Museum, providing an overview of the history and development of the IQSCM as well as insights into the quilt studies graduate programs. Attendees at the conference came from as far away as France, the Netherlands and Australia, with additional groups from Japan and Korea joining the Tsinghua University faculty and students. An exhibition in the Academy of Art & Design's galleries featured work by James and an international array of quilt artists.

While in Beijing, James attended Intertextile at the China International Exhibition Centre as guest of the China Fashion & Color Association. The wholesale show attracts apparel fabric vendors from all over Asia as well as Europe, and coincided with China Fashion week, held simultaneously in Beijing. Although the international apparel market has been impacted by the worldwide economic downturn, attendance and activity at Intertextile were robust.