Chi-Ka: Fusion Clothing - July, 2007 Chisako Hisamatsu and Kate Barber

When envisioning Chi-Ka: Fusion Clothing, textile artists Chisako Hisamatsu and Kate Barber began with the basics-- uncolored silk fabric and yarn. In their skilled hands the silk underwent a metamorphosis: using their talents as dyers, weavers, and clothing designers, they have created unusual silk clothing.

Their color palette is especially beautiful because Chisako and Kate use only natural dyes such as madder, indigo, and cochineal. Fabrics range from translucent to puckered, and are put to good use in simple construction that shows off the beauty of the fabric.

This show is the first presentation of Chi-Ka: Fusion Clothing. The name for their clothing line not only makes reference to their names, it also implies the cultural influences and the variety of fabrics used in their creations. The fact that Chi-Ka plays on “chica” the Spanish word for girl, was a delightful coincidence.

Included in the show will be new work by Vancouver jewelry designer Anat Basanta. Her original designs, handcrafted to the highest standards, nicely complement the textiles.