Conference papers, Publications and Exhibitions
March 2016 Research project and designs selected for Fashion 360° Exhibition at Norwich University of the Arts, celebrating the work of designers around the themes of connectivity, pattern and form.
July 2015 Art in Action, selected for an exhibition of work by designer-makers, Textile Section, Waterperry, Oxfordshire
July 2014 Art in Action, selected for an exhibition of work by designer-makers, Textile Section, Waterperry, Oxfordshire
May 2014 Handmade in Britain, an exhibition of work by peer-selected design-makers, Chelsea Old Town Hall.
March 2014 Presentation of my research paper: 'Silent Trade: the currency of craft knowledge in designer-artisan collaborations' at Bridging the Divide: developing and applying design research methodologies for cross-disciplinary practice in Africa symposium at CSM.
March 2014 Exhibition of accessories and textiles, with talk, as part of London Hat Week at Atelier Millinery.
September 2013 ‘Craft as Cross-Cultural Communication and Exchange’ - paper presented at the Making Futures Conference, Plymouth College of Art, on the unforeseen impacts of collaborative work on the creative practice and personal development. Published.
July 2013 Art in Action, selected for an exhibition of work by designer-makers, Textile Section, Waterperry, Oxfordshire
March 2013 ‘Opportunities and Challenges in International Craft Collaborations in Uganda’ – article published in Start Journal, about the issues to be considered by those working on international, artisanal, collaborative projects.
February 2013 ‘Ugandan mekeka: form, function and fashion’ – paper presented at the Endangered Textiles Conference, SOAS, London, about the historic, social and cultural significance of Ugandan plaited mat making.
July 2013 Art in Action - an exhibition of work by selected artists and craft practitioners from across a range of disciplines, including my accessories and textiles – under my label Elsa Cappelli.
Jan-July 2013 ‘Redesigning Fashion’ – an installation of my own accessories and textiles as part of a major exhibition at Stockport Museum, England
September 2012 ‘Sustain RCA’ – my work was selected as part of this exhibition at the Royal College of Art, London, highlighting ways in which design can address social and environmental issues (awarded Highly Commended).
July 2012 ‘Scoop’ - my designs were selected for a trade exhibition of fashion and accessories, at the Saatchi Gallery, London
June 2012 ‘Pidgin Plait: fashioning cross-cultural communication through craft’ – PhD thesis, with accompanying volume of illustrated Field Journals. My research was unusually broad, embracing couture fashion, design for development, sustainable design, development theory, feminist theory and the politics of work.
April 2012 ‘Inspiring Matter’ – my Pidgin Plait project was featured in this exhibition of ground-breaking, sustainable design work at the Royal College of Art, London, including accessories, textiles, samples, sketchbook, design work, film and imagery.
July 2011 ‘Design Means Business’ – my textiles and accessorieswere included in an exhibition of student work (one of 3 selected from the RCA), organised by the Design Special Interest Group of The Textile Institute, supported by the Sustainability Special Interest Group, at Durbar Court, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London.
April 2011 ‘Meeting the Maker: warm irregularity in African craft practice’ - an article published in Craft Research Journal on the significance of the ‘hand’ in historic, sub-Saharan African aesthetics.
September 2010 ‘Research RCA’ – exhibition of selected art and design research projects, at the Royal College of Art
March 2010 Article published in ‘Gleanings’ – journal of the National Association of Wheat Weavers of America
September 2009 ‘Straw into Gold: a role for craft in fashion and development’ – a paper presented on micro-development as a means of sustainably sourcing ethically-produced materials for the Fashion industry, at the Making Futures Conference, Plymouth College of Art. Published.