Colouring the Nation: The Turkey Red Printed Cotton Industry in Scotland, c.1840-1940

Abstract

·Showcases the huge archive of Turkey red patterns and samples ·In both the scope and detail of the new research and in the focus on textile manufacturer's pattern books, the project, of which this is the book, was a unique undertaking ·Will be of interest to textile and fashion historians and craft workers such as quilters Colouring the Nation is a collaborative project between National Museums Scotland and the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh. By looking at decorative textiles manufacturing, its aim was to show that Scotland once played a key role in the production of fashionable fabrics in an industry employing thousands of workers. Turkey red was a complex dyeing process that produced a fast and washable shade of red that was overprinted with exotic patterns and sold internationally, from North America and the West Indies, to India and China. The fabrics were made for clothing, such as saris, shawls, and bandanas, and for furnishing. When synthetic dyes replaced the madder-based Turkey red, the industry in Scotland collapsed. An archive of 200 pattern books and approximately 40,000 textile samples was acquired in 1960 by National Museums Scotland. This book tells the history of the industry, with examples of these gorgeous fabrics.

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