A love for textiles handed down
- Barbara creates lasting objects
- Daughter of a dressmaker, she has spent her life around fabrics and thread
- The most important thing for her is to unleash her creativity
Barbara Jagoda-Maas grew up surrounded by swathes of fabric and the tools of her mother who was a dressmaker. Her mother's work inspired her to follow a similar path. First, Barbara apprenticed with a ladies' tailor, then studied fashion design in Bielefeld. While still a student, Barbara immersed herself in the fashion industry and stayed there for almost 20 years. However, fashion's temporary nature and over-functionality did not allow her to unleash her creativity fully. So, in 2018, she set up her own studio, where she creates textile objects for the home. She works with one-of-a-kind textiles supplied by fabric makers from all over Europe with decades of experience in their manufacture. She chooses colourful, exotic, original, eye-catching motifs that will produce captivating interior accents for her customers' homes. "It is important to me that my work lasts a long time,” confirms Barbara.
Interview
- What is most important to you when you create?
- After all my years in the fashion industry, I realised that creativity and quality are the most essential thing for me. The freedom of fantasy and creativity plays the most significant role.
- What do you find most fascinating about your craft?
- I like the fact that I create objects for the home. A cushion on a sofa or armchair can stay with a person for years. The quality and craftsmanship of my work are of a very high standard, so my cushions can be in people's homes for 10 years or longer, and sustainability is very important here. Compared to clothes, which are fashion-driven and only relevant for one season, the home accessories I create are durable, which fascinates me.
- What makes your pieces stand out?
- For me, it is essential to combine fabrics with different prints or textures. The different effects of the patterns or textures are very important. One side is always patterned, the other is plain, and the patterned side almost always combines two different patterned fabrics. I want to enhance the effect of the pattern and the textures.
- What qualities do you need to have in order to practise your craft?
- As I not only design and sew but also teach, it is very important for me to instill in young people that you need to be on fire to create. Indifference will not cut it. You have to love what you do to create a valuable object.
Barbara Jagoda-Maas is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1991 and she started teaching in 2021
Where
Barbara Jagoda-Maas
