Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia

Russian Textiles showcases the gorgeous cotton textiles that were created and manufactured in Russia and exported to Central Asia from 1850 to 1950. The Muslims in these Central Asian countries — Uzbeks, Tadjiks, Farsi, Turkomans, etc. — incorporated the brightly patterned fabrics into their clothing, particularly the linings of their robes and household items. An introductory essay describes the fascinating history of this influence of Middle Eastern and Western aesthetic styles and is illustrated with vintage photography from the turn of the 20th century as well as images of the robes and other articles that were lined and embellished with the beautiful cloth. More than 150 fantastic patterns from a variety of periods and styles, from late Victorian to Art Nouveau to Art Deco, are featured, making Russian Textiles a book every fashion, interior and product designer, craftsperson and artist will want in their inspiration library.