The Darning Cloth of Anna Auerbach

The making of textiles and garments involves the use of extensive natural and human resources, but globalisation of the industry has made these resources invisible to most. Investigations in museums’ collections can help bring attention to the competencies, skills and knowledge which were once woven into all making, wearing and caring of textile objects. Auerbach’s cloth represents the repair techniques of darning, but also the societal ideals linked to handicraft teaching in the beginning of the 20th century. Through re-making the cloth, the project explores the capabilities hidden in the stitches. Can this repair practice help us better care for textiles resources in the future?