THE STUDY OF THE

It is not correct to say that New Zealand textile industry does not exist. It is just looks a bit different then in the rest of the world. It consists of small domestic factories, private studios, craft groups; and characterizes by uniqueness and creativity.

It was not in the interest of New Zealand to have large textile factories. Large factory is looking for a long run of the same fabric at a time, otherwise it is impossible to cover the costs of production. But the amount of fabric produced on the long run would be much over the demand for it.

Therefore the idea of small domestic factories and craft studios was the best for New Zealand . It allowed New Zealand designers and manufacturers to produce the right amount of fabric to successfully meet a demand, to response quick to changes on the market, and to have one unique creative textile industry for the smart little country.

In this essay I am going to introduce three design periods – Psychedelic 60s’, Technical Modernism of 70s’, and Post Modernism – in the aspect of textile design as it was in New Zealand .

I have chosen an image of a bottle and show how it can be interpreted in different periods of design.

Psychedelic 60s'
Technical Modernism 70s'
POSTmodernism