The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

05/16/2025

The mesmerizing patterns on this blanket are meticulously handwoven in Mali, West Africa. If you look closely, you can spot red and yellow accents within the darker geometric motifs. Would you guess that the material comprising these fine details is goat hair? 🐐

Blanket; West Africa, Mali; 1960-1979. Goat hair, cotton, braid, band, tassel, wool; plain weave, continuous supplementary-weft patterning, discontinuous supplementary-weft patterning, floating supplementary-weft patterning. The Textile Museum Collection 1973.5. Gift of Ambassador Robert O. Blake.

05/15/2025

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the installation of our newest exhibition, “Source Material: Lesson In Responsible Fashion!," opening today! Explore historical garments from The Textile Museum Collection alongside modern, sustainable designs tackling overproduction and overconsumption.

Visit the exhibition to explore how textile traditions can inspire a more responsible future for fashion. https://museum.gwu.edu/source-material-lessons-responsible-fashion.

Photos by Hanna Leka/ the George Washington University.

05/13/2025

You won't believe how beautiful this mantle is! Video by Dominic Mann Visuals.

05/12/2025

“Yastiks,” or traditional Turkish bolster covers, push textile designers to rethink orientation. Woven vertically but displayed horizontally in the home, they demand both technical skill and creative flair — all within a small space. Examples such as today’s meet the artistic challenge beautifully and effectively.

Velvet cushion cover; Türkiye, Bursa; 17th century. Silk, cotton, metallic-wrapped thread; cut velvet, supplementary-weft patterning; 66 x 109 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1.54. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1951.

05/09/2025

It may be unfinished, but how stylish is this hat? Made in the Pamir region of Kyrgyzstan, this hat features earflaps, metal decorations and intricate embroidery. The level of precision, detail and care in these vibrant designs are cornerstone qualities of Kyrgyz textiles 🇰🇬

Hat; Kyrgyzstan, Pamir region; c. 1900. Cotton, metal, silk; embroidery; 43 x 25 cm. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-1432. Photo by Bruce M. White Photography.

05/08/2025

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?

Visit our Artisans Gallery to explore unique scarves, bags and clothing items from around the world. Whatever you choose, we guarantee it will be a thoughtful and special gift that the mother figures in your life will cherish.

Photos by Hanna Leka/the George Washington University.

05/06/2025

Curious where our textiles are stored when not on display?

The Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center is a world-class facility dedicated to preserving and studying our collections. With a conservation lab, storage areas, photography studio and fabrication workshop, it's where expert care and preservation magic happens!

Photo by William Atkins/the George Washington University.

05/05/2025

Start your day with a dose of ! This colonial Peruvian altar covering blends Inka weaving traditions with European memento mori imagery: Look closely to see the skeletons of a king, pope and Spanish nobles. Commissioned by Spaniards but crafted in the Indigenous style, it was likely used during funerals and monthly masses for the deceased.

Altar frontal, Peru, late 16th or early 17th century. Cotton, camelid hair; interlocked tapestry weave; 103 x 162 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 91.412. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1944.

05/02/2025

Join fiber artist Debra Lee as she unravels the techniques behind this intricate chief's robe from the DRC or Angola!

Video by Dominic Mann Visuals

05/01/2025

Join artist Gerhardt Knodel online for a free discussion of his body of work and his discovery of significant resources in historical textiles that inspire investigation and innovation. Knodel's work collides past and present, extending the legacy of the original textile into a contemporary context.

Virtual, May 8, 6 p.m.
Register: https://museum.gwu.edu/contemporary-voices-gerhardt-knodel

04/30/2025

our centennial exhibition “Intrinsic Beauty: Celebrating the Art of Textiles” is open through June 14? Visit our galleries for a rich exploration of beautiful textiles from around the globe!

Photos by Hanna Leka/the George Washington University.

04/29/2025

If you love quilts, don’t miss "We Gather at the Edge: Contemporary Quilts by Black Women Artists" at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery in D.C. this spring. The exhibition features 35 quilts that explore themes of history, identity and community.

Myrah Brown Green, In My Akwabaa Form, 2000, cotton fabric and cotton batt, 95 × 86 in. (241.3 × 218.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2023.40.19, © 2000, Myrah Brown Green