Reconstructing textile heritage

This article recreates a deteriorating archive, bringing life, opportunity and growth to a collection that is in reality dying. It explores a collection owned by the National Trust at Claydon House in Buckinghamshire. Modern techniques of Infinate Focus Microscopy and Computerized Tomography scanning are used to render 3D digital images which are intended to capture the imagination of contemporary artists and designers resulting in an ever evolving archive for future generations. The research identifies that all textile materials have significance and even the smallest fragments may serve as an inspiration to the next generation of creative designers. Focusing on the preservation, restoration and visualization of small insignificant fragments of delicate cloth, the article captures and reinvents the materials, giving a new meaning for future generations.