House of Textile Arts

The House of Textile Arts is a Joint Venture of three Associations dedicated to preserve textile craftsmanship

German Embroiderer‘s Guild

International School for Textile Arts

Tentakulum Manufaktur

Bringing together peopleof many ages with a keen interest in textile crafts and arts

The German Embroiderer‘s Guild has been founded in 1998 by a small group of enthusiastic embroiderer‘s. It‘s main goal is to preserve textile traditions and teach younger generations how to transfer it into contemporary design and how to apply them to various items of everyday life

From the very beginning we have worked with groups on large projects. Thus we have been able to build up technical skills and social awareness. We have worked with people of all ages, starting as young as 12 years and as old as almost 90. Works have been exhibited in many places and countries like France, England and the United States. Members of the Guild have participated in competitions and the Guild has also initiated two very successful competitions.

Working on a map of the world. Visitors of a trade show signed it and members of the guild embroidered the signatures.

Entry for the Guild‘s competition„Holes“Worked by a former member of the board

In 2005 the German Craft‘s Council and the Ministry of Education have initiated a very innovative way to replace the old appren-ticeships in the craft of knitting, weaving and embroidery by forming a new profession called Designing Crafts WoMan. The president of the Guild, Mrs. Zimber, has been on the board for this new apprenticeship and this started a whole new movement in the guild itself. The guild has dedicated it‘s whole work to advertise the new apprenticeship and do workshops to show people why this craft deserves to live on into future centuries.

Workshop with students from the International School for Textile Arts held by Bärbel Ingeborg Zimber

The International School for Textile Arts has been founded in 1995 by Bärbel Ingeborg Zimber, when she finished her training as a certified embroideress at the Royal School of Needlework in London. Until the launch of the new apprenticeship in 2011 the school offered a private training in hand-embroidery. The students are adult learners, the age ranging from 30 to 75. In 1998 the school started offering a training scheme on a distance learning basis to students all over the world. Until this day as many as 48 students have finished the 3-6 year training.

Embroidered panels from the Grundtvig project Threads that connect us.

Germany alittle bit different

In 2010 the International School for Textile Arts in cooperation with the German Embroiderer‘s Guild for the first time participated in a Grundtvig project. It dealt with the possibilities of training people in textile crafts to show them ways to earn money. This met exactly the aims of the Guild and the school and was the start of a completely new approach to the apprenticeship. It is now being advertised for by the school in all countries of the EU to encourage people to learn this craft by distance learning and get started with their own business.

Networking with other textile teachers has become even more important than before. This foto was taken during the first meeting of future trainers

The apprentices get a basic training and can choose their main focus from 6 subjects:

Bobbin Lace Embroidery Felting Knitting Passamentry Weaving

The International School for Textile Arts is offering the subject of hand-embroidery, but providing basic knowledge of passamentry, felting and weaving as well.

One of our products from the cooperation with a saddlery in Northern Germany.

Last but not least the Tentakulum Manufaktur, a manufacturing company for hand painted threads and other textile materials, is an important part of the House of Textile Arts. As it is very hard to get good quality embroidery threads and other materials for contemporary embroidery projects, the company has been founded in 1995 to supply the students of the school with a huge variety of materials. Since 1998 it is producing the famous Painter‘s Threads Collection, giving a perfect example how one can make a living on textile arts by finding one‘s special corner in this field.