Bauhaus Textiles

The legendary Bauhaus school in Germany produced some of the most influential figures in modern design. Although mostly remembered for it's revolution in the field of architecture, the textiles- and the women who made them- should not be overlooked.

Gunta Stolzl was a student at Bauhaus before becoming the first female "master" on staff. She oversaw the entire weaving program, which pushed the boundaries of textile design and construction. Her finished pieces and sketches display a range of simple and wildly complex compositions. The bold use of colors make her work very powerful and emotional.

One of the most well known (and my personal favorite) of Gutna's pupils was Anni Albers. Her style was influenced and complimentary to her husband's, architect Josef Albers. The intersection of vertical and horizontal lines seems like a simple concept, but her clean layouts and use of positive and negative space make the patterns visually fascinating.

These women were not just exceptional designers and craftsmen, they were pioneers of the textile industry. At a time when women weren't allowed to pursue an education in the male dominated field of architecture, they took control of the weaving workshop to express themselves and create masterpieces that helped form some of the founding principles of modern design.