Where Ends Find New Beginnings
GABRIEL WISHART takes you into the world of ‘Nomad’ where touch, craftsmanship, and imagination come together
Nomad Surplus Luxury Textiles is not merely a store; it’s a space where every material is given the opportunity for reinvention. Whether you’re a pattern cutter, a tailor, or someone who creates garments for historical re-enactments, Nomad offers a place where the potential of each item is fully embraced. Here, creativity thrives in the mystery of what something could become.
As a member of staff, I witness firsthand the joy of discovery in those who visit. I watch as they ponder over possibilities, captured by the spark of an idea they wish to express through their chosen fabric. Whether you are skilled with a Singer sewing machine or an actual singer fixing and making hats from discarded piano parts to crown her performance, you’ll find that every piece of fabric or textile carries within it the potential for transformation. Nothing here is static or final; rather, everything is imbued with the excitement of what it could become…
Nomad was originally founded in Glasgow in 2022 by Philippa Farnese who sees Nomad as part of environmental regeneration: “Nomad is committed to reducing the carbon footprint and waste production in the UK textile industry,” she explains. The discarded, the surplus, the overlooked, and the forgotten all find new life here. It is in this process of transformation that we come to appreciate the value in what others may disregard.
In the world today, value is often determined by a narrow set of standards – clean edges, symmetry, and precision are highly prized. Yet this focus on perfection can starve our imaginations and we hunger for the beauty found in the undecided and the unfinished, seeking out what is hidden and overlooked. In this process of exploration, every strand of fabric and every piece of material can be infused with new life and purpose. At Nomad, fabric and craftsmanship are not just present – they are deeply felt. The tactile knowledge that comes from working with one’s hands is celebrated and nurtured.
As Ulrich Lehmann of the University of Creative Arts puts it: “The essence of making lies in creating life.” This speaks to the mystery of creation, where something whole emerges from disparate, often opposing elements.
Annie Albers, widely considered the foremost textile designer of the 20th century, once lamented society’s growing insensitivity to touch, and her words ring true today in a world where virtual experiences dominate, and our physical interactions with objects are minimal. At Nomad, you are invited to reconnect with the physical world. You can handle materials, feel their texture, weight (cashmere, wool, silks, linens are sold by weight, or as products or kits), and flexibility, and, in doing so, rediscover the fundamental nature of touch. As Albers pointed out: “We touch the objects of our love. We touch the things we form. Our tactile experiences are elemental.”
So, for me, Nomad is more than just a store. The rear of the space has been transformed into a studio, a workshop of invention; a place where your creative plans may be navigated and traversed in unexpected and unplanned ways. It is filled with materials in various stages of completion – unfinished works, forgotten projects, and things that exist somewhere between material and art.
I encourage you to join the alchemy of creation. Experience the magic of turning what was once discarded into something new and full of life.
Nomad is open Wednesdays to Sunday. For further information visit nomadslt.com
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