Each Little World

Selvedge: American special

I bought my first issue of Selvedge magazine (No. 3) in 2004. I was helpless from the moment I spied it on the rack at Borders. I recognized it for what it was and still is: porn for textiles fanatics. Finally it wasn't just the foodies who had a magazine filled with history, trivia, creativity, inspiration and luscious photos about their favorite subject. The only problem was the cover price: $20. Published in the UK, the American edition cost as much as a book. I just bit the bullet and kept buying it — until the price crept up to $30! 

So you can imagine my surprise and pleasure when I saw the July/Aug. issue with a banner saying "American Issue / Special Price $14.95." Of course I bought a copy; the price being even cheaper than when I began purchasing selvedge. And it had an attractive graphic (as always) about cotton, a story on the history of the fiber and one on how the American Civil War affected Britain's textile industry. I had suggested the topic of cotton and the Civil War to the textile study group I belong to as an apt study subject since we are approaching the Sesquicentennial of the War. They agreed, put it on our November agenda and I've been compiling bits and pieces of information ever since — so the selvedge articles are providential. 

But the real happy ending to this story is that the special American price on selvedge was not just for this issue. Rumor has it that they now have the ability to print the magazine here for American readers, thus the price is now more in line with what it costs in Europe. USA subscriptions will cost $40 for 6 months or $75 for a year (making it $12.50 per copy according to the subscription form). Read more about the magazine and how to subscribe here.

Fog rolls in

The mini Design Within Reach catalog came the other day but I didn’t actually flip through it until today. Which is when I discovered they are now carrying the minimalist textiles of Japanese designer Yumiko Sekine.

Some of the Fog Linen clothing line.

I first discovered Sekine’s designs in Selvedge, the British magazine that touts textiles of any size, kind, degree, or material. Each issue is lush, loaded with ideas and inspiration — but with text that is nowhere near the quality of the publication’s design or visual content. And don’t get me started on the cutlines — or lack thereof.

The cafe apron.

But I digress. Sekine uses raw linen from Lithuania to create the products which are sold under the name Fog Linen. And according to DWR, they “get softer with age and become even more absorbent with each washing.” The aprons are my favorite items but, frankly, cost too much to wear when they might get all dirty and greasy. So for now I’m just making virtual visits to Fog’s Tokyo shop.

What do you think: is $55-$85 (DWR prices) too much to pay for a plain linen apron? Have you got a secret — or at least a favorite — source for linen fabric and clothes?

The shop in Tokyo.

See more Fog linen at the Selvedge magazine on-line shop.
Fog linen is part of DWR’s Tools for Living collection.

All images from the Fog Linen Web site.