r/Textile_Design

My grandfather worked at Birge Wallpaper in Buffalo, NY (USA) from approximately 1950 to the late 1970's as the Director of Design and later the Vice President of design. I believe the Buffalo NY office was shut down in 1976.

Since his passing we have been storing this wooden cabinet of photographic slides that appears to be wallpaper patterns. There appears to be around 1500 slides. See photos.

There is a business card in the box for C. Oscar Hesse. When doing google searches for him I have found some patents under that name for wallpaper patterns in conjunction with Birge Wallpaper: https://patents.google.com/patent/USD191288S/en

There is nothing in the archive to indicate that these patterns have anything to do with Mr. Hesse and it's just as likely that my Grandfather tossed the card in the box to save it, but it helps to prove the Birge Wallpaper connection. My parents recall the name Hesse being mentioned over the years by my Grandfather.

What might this archive of wallpaper patterns be worth? I can imagine it has having a lot of artistic value for set designers, pattern designs, fabric designers and other artistic interests.

Is there is an appropriate library or historical archive for these types of materials? In a perfect world I would love to create high resolution scans and post them as a free digital archive, but realistically don't see myself having the time to do that.

Any information would be fantastic.

​Hi everyone, ​I’m turning to this community because I’m completely stuck and I know you guys work miracles. ​I am desperately looking for a specific vintage bedding set (a duvet cover and pillowcase) from the late 80s or early 90s. As you can see in the picture, it has a very distinct Memphis design aesthetic: a mauve/light purple background with a blue and pink overlapping grid, and solid black triangles. ​Regarding the texture, I am almost completely sure it is made of cotton cretonne. It’s a very sturdy, classic cotton weave. ​This specific duvet cover has been my childhood comfort blanket my entire life. I am incredibly attached to this exact pattern and the specific texture of this fabric, but it is unfortunately starting to fall apart after decades of love and washing. ​Here is what I have tried so far: ​I have been aggressively searching second-hand websites for a year. ​I have run the image through Google Lens multiple times with zero results (the folds in the fabric seem to mess up the algorithm).

​I am hoping someone here might recognize the pattern or the brand (maybe an old IKEA, 3 Suisses, La Redoute, or a generic 90s department store brand). If anyone has this sitting in a closet, knows the exact name of the collection, or knows a deadstock fabric seller who has it, please let me know. ​I just want to find another one so I can keep this comfort item in my life. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

I designed this thumbnail yesterday for $10
What’s your rating? 🤔

Map of African textile traditions, each one carries centuries of technique and meaning. Kente, Bogolan, Shweshwe, Kuba raffia, so many distinct weaving and dyeing traditions packed into one continent.

I watched a few YouTube tutorials on how to format for seamless patterns in Procreate and now I'm obsessed. I didn't use AI for these btw.

Hi everyone!
I’m about to graduate with a degree in Textile Design, and I’m trying to figure out the best direction to take professionally.

The image I’m sharing is an example of the kind of work I do: a small coordinated collection with a hero print, supporting prints, a faux solid, a color palette, and a few mockups to show how the designs could be applied. My work isn’t limited to fashion as I can create surface pattern design that could also work for wallpaper, home décor, stationery, packaging, fabrics, and similar products. No AI involved. I mainly use Procreate but I wish to learn more Adobe Illustrator for the vector part.

Would you recommend:
trying freelance platforms (like Fiverr or Upwork)?
looking for licensing opportunities?
pitching directly to companies?
something else that I’m not considering?

Where I’m from I don’t have any opportunities to look for jobs that’s why I’m looking for remote work. Thank you very much!!!

www.pixelkari.art
A DIGITAL DESIGN TOOL

Pixelkari is a browser-based drawing tool inspired by the patterns of Phulkari, a traditional embroidery practice from Punjab. Create motifs, stamp patterns, explore old forms through new ways, and watch a new language emerge.

This idea has been brewing for some years now, I just never knew what form it would take. My mum and nani have been practicing textile crafts all their lives, but between their generation and mine, the digital shift happened rapidly, and the analog skills have quietly thinned.

What started out as a fun project quickly turned into a design enquiry. The idea comes from a personal place, rooted in maternal craft passed down through generations. Like a lot of diasporic Punjabis, I never lived in Punjab, but the pull to understand where I come from never left.

Pixelkari is my way of reaching back. A browser-based tool to build familiar motifs, stamp patterns, and watch a design emerge. The more I used it, the more it became its own visual language. Phulkari motifs were always drawn from the environment and stories of the communities making them, so it made me wonder, what would those motifs look like today? It’s not a replacement for the real thing, it’s an entry point. A new interpretation of something old, and honestly, just fun to play with.

I’m so curious how you’ll use it and what you’ll make. Try it out at www.pixelkari.art (desktop only for now). Follow @pixelkari.art on instagram, share any designs you make, and send me your inputs, they help me figure out where to push this next. There’s a feedback form on the app itself but please reach out wherever. I’m looking to gather inputs and improvements. Mainly thinking about different use cases for the tool