ABOUT A WORKER has been invited to imagine a workshop for Palais Galliera. Inspired by the fashion museum’s textile archives, the collective has conceived a shirt workshop giving the participants the possibility to experiment with many embellishment techniques while learning some exclusive content about the collection. Check out the process below!

visit to palais galliera’s secret archives

In order to use patterns from Galliera's collection for the workshop, we visited the museum's private archive. Specialists were there to guide us through it and explained us the evolution of pattern design from the XVII century until todays time. It was interesting to observe how embellishments went from floral inspiration to political statement over time.

step 1 : trace your patterns

The first step participants were asked to do was to choose a design from a collection of iconic patterns from Palais Galliera’s museum. With the help of carbon paper, the participants could reproduce their favorite one directly onto pieces of fabric, cut to assemble a button up shirt later on.

step 2 : paint your patterns

After finishing the tracing step, the participants were asked to colour their embellished piece with the help of fabric paints. Inspired by a technique from the 18th century, the painting step gave the participant the possibility to express themselves creatively while learning about a traditional craft from India & France. After this step was finished the ABOUT A WORKER team assembled the shirts.

step 3 : STITCH YOUR PATTERNS

The participants were able to stitch a part of their shirt with threads and pearls with the help of embroidery experts .A big help to Lucie Chaptal from We Made Together, who created tutorials specifically for the workshop.