BRAIDED TRADITIONS: COMMON THREADS FILM
BGKC PRESENTS: Braided Traditions Common Threads Film by Oyato Agency
A CELEBRATION OF BLACK WOMENS HAIR THROUGH KNITTING.
East London collective Black Girl Knit Club collaborates with LendLease to Yarn Bomb The Pavilion at Stratford Cross. Entitled: ‘ Braided Traditions: Common Threads’.
Created over six weeks, Black Girl Knit Club members attended weekly workshops, exploring arm knitting techniques (no needles) to create pieces that will decorate Endeavour Square public viewing platform, steps, and railings.
Here is the film showcasing our community and interview with our founders Sicgmone & Vea. A Film by Oyato Agency
Creative and Production Agency: OYATO @oyato.agency
Director / Producer : Yemi Alade @yemioyato
2nd Cam Operator: Baran Çırakoğlu @barancirakoglu
Post Producer: Sarah Rogan
Editor: Yemi Alade @yemioyato
Assistant Editor / Colorist: Moritz Oskar Meyer @moritzoskarmeyer
Sound Mix: Hanna Lindgren
LONDON CRAFT WEEK 14th -18th MAY: BGKC HOST WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH STRATFORD CROSS, UAL & V&A
Black Girl Knit Club – Hosted workshops for participants to create a collaborative knit piece or tote bag while starting or expanding or your knitting skills, learning a variety of different stitches and experimenting with yarn textures.
CROSS THE LINE
Cross the Line: Creative Workshops Intersecting Art and Craft
We hosted workshops to create a collaborative knit piece or tote bag while starting or expanding or your knitting skills, learning a variety of different stitches and experimenting with yarn textures.
Stratford Cross is proud to host five days of creative workshops with UAL London College of Fashion, the V&A Academy and Black Girl Knit Club, celebrating imagination and wellbeing. Participants are guided through the creative practice of ‘taking a line for a walk’, from drawing to embroidery and knitting.
UAL London College of Fashion – hosted drawing workshops & V&A Academy – hosted embroidery workshops.
https://londoncraftweek.com/events/cross-the-line-creative-workshops-intersecting-art-and-craft/
Our workshop was carried out in an airstream with the backdrop of our Yarn bomb installation that was extended for this intervention at Endeavour Square.
See how the day turned out below. All images taken by @kings_art
BRAIDED TRADITIONS: KNITWEAR DESIGNER - MIA RODNEY
Introducing Knitwear Designer Mia Rodney “Combing Through” by Mia Rodney - @allbitsknit - I encourage the viewer to interact with my yarn bombing through touch and feeling. The focus is on hair in its natural curly state, with nods to straightening hair. I explore these intricate curl patterns in my knits, with large hand knitted panels – crafted using relaxing repetitive movements – just like in hair braiding.
“Combing Through”
Intricate curl patterns and natural curly state.
“Combing Through” by Mia Rodney - @allbitsknit - I encourage the viewer to interact with my yarn bombing through touch and feeling. The focus is on hair in its natural curly state, with nods to straightening hair. I explore these intricate curl patterns in my knits, with large hand knitted panels – crafted using relaxing repetitive movements – just like in hair braiding.
Mia yarn bombed three out of the seven trees in response to the Braided Traditions brief
Introducing Mia Rodney, a knitwear designer who is challenging racism within her life and promoting conversation through her work. She refuses to appease idealised white beauty standards, but because she feels that's simply what makes good art. 'The point is to get people thinking. If I advertised the message loud and clear, people would spend less time looking at my work. I want my creations to speak for themselves and keep people thinking and guessing for as long as possible; it's more fun that way, and as I've often found, resonates with many more people. - Show Studio.
Her final project and degree show on the social & political impacts that “ I feel shaped the way I wore my hair growing up. Breaking down my personal journey with identity through hair into three styles - braided, straight and curly - my concept surrounds the ideas of what could be, what should be and what is” . https://chelseadegreeshow.com/student/2019/ba-textile-design/mia-rodney/
See more of her work here: https://www.instagram.com/allbitsknit/
Photography by: @kings_art
BRAIDED TRADITIONS: KNITWEAR DESIGNER - SHEREE ROBINSON
Introducing Knitwear Designer Sheree Robinson - "Braids For My Girls" by Sheree Robinson - @Shereerarobinson -My yarn bombing features depictions of the dialogue, phrases, symbols, and pictures that make up our familiar hair language; it’s a love letter of joy to the hair of my daughter and sister. The work uses the knitting techniques of Braiding, Faire Isle, Colour Work and Beaded Knitting
“Braids For
My Girls”
Love Letter of Joy
"Braids For My Girls" by Sheree Robinson - @Shereerarobinson -My yarn bombing features depictions of the dialogue, phrases, symbols, and pictures that make up our familiar hair language; it’s a love letter of joy to the hair of my daughter and sister. The work uses the knitting techniques of Braiding, Faire Isle, Colour Work and Beaded Knitting.
Introducing Sheree, a knitwear designer who loves to hand make sparkly, colourful going-out clothes and winter accessories. Where possible using end of line yarns so each piece is limited edition and environmentally friendly. Sheree was born and still lives in London, night life is an ongoing inspiration for new projects and collections.
She completed Textile Design at Central Saint Martin's where I specialised in working with knitted fabrics.
Now mother of two later Sheree is a Lecturer and teach knitting and textile techniques at UAL. as well as a workshop facilitator for Black Girl Knit Club teaching hand knitting classes across London.
See more of her work here: https://www.shereerobinsonknit.co.uk/
Photography by: @kings_art
BRAIDED TRADITIONS: KNITWEAR DESIGNER - PEJU OBASA
Introducing Knitwear Designer Peju Obasa - “Breanna” by Peju Obasa - @pejuobasa, - A yarn bombing homage to Breanna, my first Barbie doll. With Breanna, my fascination with braiding found its playground!
“Breanna”
Homage to my first Barbie Doll
“Breanna” by Peju Obasa - @pejuobasa, - A yarn bombing homage to Breanna, my first Barbie doll. With Breanna, my fascination with braiding found its playground!
Introducing Peju Obasa a womenswear designer based in London. her work is rich in colour and texture, embracing printing /dyeing and tenacious knitting techniques to create innovative pieces. her vibrant Nigerian roots mean that she is continually exploring old traditions and then turning them into the unexpected. starting from a strand of yarn and ending as a beautiful handmade piece. taking inspiration from her curiosity travels and everything from the food she enjoys to cook to the colourful building facades on random streets. Sustainability is at the core of our brand and we aim to design with a conscious mind using eco-friendly materials.
See more of her work here: https://www.pejuobasa.com/
Photography by: @kings_art
BRAIDED TRADITIONS: ARTIST - FATIMA DUKE-PRATT
Introducing Multidisciplary Artist Fatima Duke-Pratt “Country Plant” by Fatima Duke-Pratt - @unduku_luku - My yarn bombing is an exploration of the colourful traditional hairstyles and hair accessories I wore in my childhood. In Krio, the most widely spoken language in Sierra Leone, ‘country plant’ describes a type of cornrow/braid that I have featured in my work.
“Country Plant ”
An exploration of colourful traditional hairstyles and hair accessories.
“Country Plant” by Fatima Duke-Pratt - @unduku_luku - My yarn bombing is an exploration of the colourful traditional hairstyles and hair accessories I wore in my childhood. In Krio, the most widely spoken language in Sierra Leone, ‘Country Plant’ describes a type of cornrow/braid that I have featured in my work.
Introducing Fatima Duke-Pratt, a multidisciplinary artist born and based in London of Sierra Leonean and Malian heritage, who is currently focusing on figurative oil painting and printmaking.
Her artwork stems from her own life experiences and perspective of the world. Above all, Fatima’s overarching objective remains constant: to create art that contributes towards her process of emotional healing and restoration.
See more of her work here: https://www.instagram.com/unduku_luku/
Photography by: @kings_art
BRAIDED TRADITIONS: KNITWEAR DESIGNER - FADZAYI SANGO
Intorducing Knitwear designer Fadzayi Sango “Gara ndiruke” (sit and let me braid) by Fadzayi Sango -My yarn bombing is inspired by the transformative joy of being able to explore fluctuating identity through my hair after my mother and nanny taught me. I wore many masks
“Gara ndiruke”
Sit and let me braid
“Gara ndiruke” (sit and let me braid) by Fadzi Sango - @ sinoia_. -My yarn bombing is inspired by the transformative joy of being able to explore fluctuating identity through my hair after my mother and nanny taught me. I wore many masks.
Introducing Fadzayi Sango is a resident knitwear designer and product developer. Fadzayi is adaptable and versatile textile designer specializing in knitted textiles. She also has an expansive skill set in technical knitwear design and creative construction that has proven successful in the craft industry as well as the fashion industry with a focus on product and bespoke markets. Exploring the application of handknit, flatbed knitwear, and industrial knitting to create innovative products and fabrics for the various consumer markets.
See more of her work here: https://sangoknitwear.squarespace.com
Photography by: @kings_art