WHAT? Textiles: The Art of Mankind 

WHERE? The Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF

WHEN? Now until 7th September 

WHY GO? To spin a collaborative yarn. Textiles have always played a part in shaping our identity, defining different cultures and uniting nations. They have symbolically represented the traditions of different countries. Think of Indonesia and Batik, Turkey and embellished cottons or China with hand-painted silks.

This inspiring exhibition covers everything, and more. 

It showcases the tools, traditions, costumes and colourful fabrics of nations with thoughtful captions that educate and enlighten even the most curious. 

It may be a tad on the technical side but there are many endearing exhibits such as a ‘Tabby cat’ ready-to-sew kit that demonstrate the delights of craftwork within a whole section devoted to animals from peacocks on Thai silks to elephants on Indian cottons. 

Connecting cultures is the overriding theme and it soon becomes apparent that textiles were an important link in global trade and are just as relevant today as they were way back when the The Silk Road opened up trading networks.

Needless to say, no textiles exhibition would be credible without referring to sustainability and recycling, and references to ‘waste not, want not ‘ remind us that it’s not all about creating a beautiful cloth, it's about creating something that survives the test of time.

IN THE KNOW Alongside the main exhibition, Connecting Threads displays the educational work of textile artist Lynn Setterington who inspires local communities of all nationalities to gain confidence through collaborative creative needlework.  

A stitch in time can guide and inspire a young person at a crucial moment as the video with school children on show portrays.