August 2011
Halyna Zalotockyj works under the ‘Nina & Bess Textiles’ label producing work from vintage Japanese fabrics recycled from kimonos and their accessories. Halyna’s work to date has included all kinds of bags, cushions, lavender-filled products, lamp-shades, table runners, waistcoats and hand-stitched silk necklaces.
Her aim is to honour the spirit of the kimono, with its exquisite detailing, careful hand-sewn construction and traditional artisan weaving and dying techniques. After careful unpicking, laundering and pressing, textiles from damaged and no longer worn kimonos and obis are transformed into a range of unique hand-crafted objects which are detailed with vintage buttons, beads and findings.
All the silks used are at least 20 years old, with most being from the 50s, 60s and 70s, though Halyna’s personal preference is for the rarer bold colours and patterns of the 20s and 30s.
Though heavily influenced by the Japanese aesthetic, all her designs are original and no two pieces are exactly alike, no matter how small. She particularly enjoys combining fabrics from different periods in a fresh way.