The Selvedge World Fair 2021

Call for Applications: The Selvedge World Fair

The Selvedge World Fair, a celebration of cloth culture and creativity.

What's special about this event? 

Nurturing the designers and makers who inspire us is crucial to the Selvedge ethos – they are as much a part of our story as we are theirs, and with this event we are bringing the pages of the magazine alive.

This event celebrates cloth.  Textiles form an important part of the cultural heritage of every human being on the planet. Whoever you are and wherever you are, there are textiles in your heritage. Textiles are inextricably linked to the history of all humanity and it is fundamental that we cherish these traditions. 

This event celebrates all cultures.  We make no distinction between the developed and developing world. All artisans are presented on an equal footing. The event is free to enter and if selected free to participate.  Selvedge aims to cover all reasonable artisan expenses.

The event celebrates creativity. The event highlights innovative alternatives to the destruction caused by the global textile industry. we are actively looking for solutions that respect the environment and the labour of the artisans involved in their production.

A team of judges, native to each continent or category will assess the work. All specialists in the in their fields. They will independently scrutinise every entry against the following criteria:

Cultural authenticity. Does the work connect to the cultural heritage of the maker's home country or countries. Does it represent the diversity of handmade textile production around the world?

Quality of design. Colour, composition, shape and form. 

Quality of craftsmanship. Hand skills and mastery of technique.

Sustainability. Is the product environmentally and economically sustainable?

We are looking for artisans to take part in the Selvedge World Fair 2021, taking place over the course of 5 days 31 August - 4 September 2021. Applications are open now and we want to hear from you if you are a maker of handmade textiles. The event will represent textile traditions from at least fifty countries and will offer opportunities for visitor engagement. As with this year’s event, the 2021 World Fair will be held online and will include virtual workshops, talks and panel discussions. 

2021 selections will be made by six separate independent panels grouped according to continent, with an additional category of cross-cultural collaborations - for work produced as a result of a collaboration between two or more individuals from different geographic regions.

Before you start the application we ask that you please familiarise yourself with the requirements, gather all necessary documents, photos and materials needed to complete the application. Please set aside approximately 1 hr to complete the application. 

Each artisan will have a dedicated page on our website with portrait, making, studio & detail images, as well as a short bio of approximately 200 words. You can also include audio, video, and downloadable material if you wish. 

Each artisan will have a dedicated shopping page for their product collection. Artisans can list up to 10 products. The products can be available to dispatch right away, or alternatively made to order. You can also create a special collection exclusively available through Selvedge. The product should also contain a short description as well as details such as materials and techniques used, measurements, stock & retail price.

This is an opportunity to connect with the potential customers and promote your brand, and all participating artisans are required to take part. The options include taking part in talks, podcasts, hosting workshops, Instagram live, creating a project kit, live Q&A with an audience, slow tv, taking part in show & tell sessions. During the application process we invite you upload proposals for talks, workshops and project kits.  

Once you have familiarised yourself with the requirements and samples, gathered all necessary materials & content, please proceed to the apply for the event using the link below. Chrome is the recommended browser to fill out & submit the application.

With any questions, please email customerservice@selvedge.org, chat to us online or call +44 7723 465522