Calton

• CALTON   -

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Wool wadding, Silk Organza, Duchess Silk Satin, Wool blanket scraps, Cotton voile, Silk thread, Cotton thread, Cornflowers, St John's Wort, Stocks, Verbena, Ornamental quince, Other pressed flowers and leaves (various) Beeswax. Alis Le May, 2023

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Building studied : The Templeton Carpet Factory (Templeton on The Green)

Architect: William Leiper

Completed: 1892

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The Templeton Carpet Factory is easily one of the most magnificent buildings in Glasgow, the design references Doge’s Palace in Venice and is full of craftsmanship, colour and detail. Before their eventual collapse, Templeton’s carpets were seen as one of the finest textile exports of Glasgow, and graced the floors of palaces and state buildings around the world. It was important for this garment to pay homage to the splendour of the building and the carpets created there. A shape from the top of the building has been used to create a quilted motif for the lower half of the garment, the resulting geometric pattern is filled with flowers to reference the coloured chevrons that run across the top third of the facade. A carpet from the Templeton archive is the basis for the design it wraps around the back shoulders and down the front of the piece. Flowers grown in Bridgeton, and others gathered throughout the East End, fill the garment with colour. 

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Quilting assistance - Deborah Lobban

Studio Assistants - Abby Gray and Magnea Birgisdóttir

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