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MOLLY WILLIAMS

MOLLY WILLIAMS

Contemporary sculptural artist working with textile processes to explore movement, material memory, and historical textile cultures.

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    • 18th C Persian Brocade Coat
    • 15th and 16th century Ottoman kaftan design
    • 19thC Ottoman Entari research notes
    • 19thC Green Entari research notes
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    • Ottoman Child’s Kaftans research notes
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Tag: costume

Posted on June 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Research vist to The V&A Storehouse, London

Appointment at the V&A East Storehouse to study a selection of Ottoman and Persian coats as part of my ongoing research into historical textile systems and costume.

Posted on April 13, 2020

Ottoman kaftan construction – 2 Child’s Kaftans

The Clothworkers Centre in London have several Ottoman kaftans in its archive and I have visited the centre to examine some of their examples. I was interested to see how the kaftans were cut and details of the stitching. The archive kaftan pieces are typical of work made in the Ottoman court workshops during the 16th …

Continue reading "Ottoman kaftan construction – 2 Child’s Kaftans"

Posted on April 9, 2017

Ottoman garment fabrics and patterns 1.

Gomlek The under shirt (chemise) Fabrics Finest, translucent woven cotton or silk fabric was used to make the under garments. There are examples of men's winter gomleks made of fine wool. This garment was very wide and loose and often reached to the ankles, with generously wide, long sleeves. Gomlek pattern Entari The entari was a decorative …

Continue reading "Ottoman garment fabrics and patterns 1."

Posted on March 29, 2017

Ottoman 15th C -17th C woman’s costume

Women's everyday wear did not change greatly during this time and comprised of: Underclothes Salvar (trousers) that were very baggy at the waist tapering to the ankles. The salvar were often coloured though did not usually match the rest of the outfit. Gomlek (a chemise) that was mid-calf length and made from a transparent diaphanous fabric …

Continue reading "Ottoman 15th C -17th C woman’s costume"

Posted on March 28, 2017April 13, 2020

19th century Ottoman entari

This beautiful Ottoman entari is in the archives of the Clothworkers Centre, London and I had the chance to examine it closely and to make notes about its size and construction. The main fabric appears to be of cotton with stripes of soft yellow motifs and darker black floral motifs woven into the fabric on a …

Continue reading "19th century Ottoman entari"

Posted on March 26, 2017April 13, 2020

Ottoman kaftan construction – 2 Child’s Kaftans

The Clothworkers Centre in London have several Ottoman kaftans in its archive and I have visited the centre to examine some of their examples. I was interested to see how the kaftans were cut and details of the stitching. The archive kaftan pieces are typical of work made in the Ottoman court workshops during the 16th …

Continue reading "Ottoman kaftan construction – 2 Child’s Kaftans"

  • Crossing Crafts
  • Blue Brocade Persian Coat
  • Research vist to The V&A Storehouse, London
  • Join the Contemporary Dancer Workshop: Registration Open
  • Prism Textiles Exhibition 2026
Contemporary Dancer wet felt sculpture online workshop begins February 7th 2025

Contemporary Dancer Online Workshop

4th September - 2nd October

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Prototype Kaftan and dancer complete. It’s been an absorbing project - learned a new skill, discovered links between 6-7th C Persian and Japanese textile designs along the Silk Road, researched 17thC Persian kaftans at the V&A Storehouse, bought many metres of silk!, explored the magic of movement and energy between a figure, fabric and pattern- and discovered a way to combine three passions - figurative sculpture, Ottoman textiles and costume and pattern design. #figurativesculpture #silkroad #ottomantextiles  #patterndesigner Coming to the conclusion of a new project making a miniature Ottoman inspired coat - hand painted silk fabric, hand stitched and interlined. I’ve followed construction methods observed on examining 16th and 17th C Ottoman and Persian clothing at the V&A Storehouse earlier in the summer. This coat will go on a dance figure to show how movement of the figure, fabric and pattern combines to create a unique energy.  Today’s work will be exciting as I put the two together! #ottomancostumes #figurativesculpture #handpaintedsilk #costumeresearch https://www.instagram.com/p/DdFCcxcnJpy/ Working on a silk painted fabric for a miniature Ottoman inspired kaftan - this is for the circular skirt part of the costume. Sleeves and bodice tomorrow… Development work towards a new sculpture for the Kogei Kyoto exhibition in November - a silk painted miniature Ottoman inspired kaftan for a dancer - merging the emotion and energy of a dancer with pattern and fabric…#ottomantextiles #kogeikyoto #kyotokogei #societyofdesignercraftsmen #historiccostumes Just had a great time at the Ickworth Estate for the Private View of the Suffolk Crafts Society exhibition with the SDC/SCS Crossing Crafts Collaborative project. #claudialuque we did well!!! Saw friends I haven’t seen for ages and made new ones. What a fabulous crowd of talented craftsmen! #prismtextiles #societyofdesignercraftsmen #internationalfeltmakersassociation #julieharper Crossing Crafts exhibition of collaborative work between members of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and the Suffolk Craft Society at Ickworth Estate Saturday 29th August - Sunday 20th September. #contemporarytextiles #internationalfeltmakersassociation #prismtextiles #contemporarycrafts #ickworthhouse Very excited to be exhibiting my collaborative work with Claudia Luque at the SDC/SCS ‘Crossing Crafts’ at Ickworth Estate Saturday 29th August to Sunday 20th September. #contemporarycraft #suffolkcraftsociety #societyofdesignercraftsmen #contemporaryart #contemporaryceramics Two weeks to go till my Contemporary Dancer Online workshop begins. This workshop is tutor-lead and alongside step-by-step videos we will have weekly Zoom meetups plus I will present webinars on scaling up you figure and three other topics. You can find out more about the workshop via the link in my bio and website: www.mollywilliams.co.uk #feltworkshops #onlineworkshops #feltsculpture #sculptureworkshop

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  • Crossing Crafts
  • Blue Brocade Persian Coat
  • Research vist to The V&A Storehouse, London
  • Join the Contemporary Dancer Workshop: Registration Open
  • Prism Textiles Exhibition 2026
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