Turning Old Tailoring Patterns Into Works Of Fine Art

Hormazd Narielwalla saves old tailoring patterns from being trashed by turning them into works of fine art

- Hormazd Narielwalla

Introduce us to your work.

HN: My work is an open invitation to the spectator to join me on a journey in the mind, an offering of unknown splendor and hidden detail, high seriousness and eye-twinkling allusions side by side. I am a fine artist turning tailoring and sewing patterns, into interesting and vibrant collages, sculptures, original prints and books. Collage is a natural medium for me as I work with paper tailoring and sewing patterns interpreting the body and the human condition in abstracted form. My work has moved into the realm of books, fine art publishing, artist books, sculptures and installation based works. However, there’s always some element of collage. Somebody once described my work as a conversation between art history and fashion. I borrow and speak to many themes around Modernism, which is when collage as a practice evolved.

Briefly describe your design journey.

HN: I grew up in Pune, where I worked as a stylist for magazines like Citadel and Femina Pune. Fifteen years ago I came to the UK to study Fashion Design, specializing in Menswear, at the University of Wales, Newport. I then moved to London, where I embarked on a Master’s at Westminster, specializing in Fashion Communication. It was during this time that I met William Skinner, the Managing Director of Dege & Skinner, a 150-year-old tailoring house, who told me that upon the death of customers, they would ceremoniously shred their tailoring patterns. This left a profound effect on me and I convinced him to give me a set of patterns, which inspired the making of an artist book called Dead Man’s Patterns. The book was very well received, and the British Library and the National Art Library acquired it for their world class collection of books.