Artistic connections

In an era dominated by tidal waves of visual stimuli across various digital platforms, we find ourselves scrolling and swiping incessantly. Images flicker momentarily before disappearing, stored away in unseen databases. When we consider imagery related to fashion, particularly printed textiles, we observe that these pieces also showcase a multitude of visuals but, unlike their digital counterparts, printed textiles are permanently situated within a specific time and place. This permanence highlights a stark contrast with the rising tide of fashion waste, revealing the fleeting nature of our throwaway culture. Print lies at the core of the waste crisis in today's fashion landscape. Alarming statistics surrounding fashion production and waste underscore the issue; printed garments are disposed of just as swiftly as digital images are scrolled into oblivion. Wearing printed art is both majestic and powerful, yet contemporary fashion seems to be out of sync with this value. This research delves into the illustrious chintz, a motif that has maintained its appeal over centuries and has been cherished in the realm of fashion. An exploration of this motif and its applications on fabric reveals concepts of artistry, upcycling and the appreciation of printed pieces as heirlooms. This paper draws on historical lessons that could inform our modern approach to print design in fashion today, creating a bridge between textile artistry and fashion design while fostering deeper connections with garments through interaction with established print techniques.