Come take a peek inside our Winter 2025 Folk Wear Issue

I once spent a few weeks in the highlands village of Chinchero, Peru, while working on a book about Andean textile traditions. Each day, artisans from nearby communities would arrive to demonstrate their remarkable technical skills. Over time, I began to recognize where they were from just by looking at their clothing—earflaps on knitted chullos, embroidery along skirt hems, distinctive woven motifs in shawls. It was a powerful lesson in how clothing serves as both cultural and personal identity.

Fine wool and elegant beadwork capture the spirit of Lithuanian handicraft

Of course, this is not unique to the Andes. We see a dirndl and think of alpine villages in Germany or Austria; a sarong brings Southeast Asia instantly to mind. That spirit is at the heart of this issue —a celebration of clothing as a window into culture and place. This is what previous editor Pat Olski had in mind when she gathered this collection of articles and projects. As both a textile lover and a traveler, I adore traditional dress and am honored, as the new editor of PieceWork, to bring these stories to you.

Hazel Tindall's fabulous Fair Isle scarf.

Many of this issue’s articles explore the ties between dress and place. Michele Phillips Barden takes us along the shores of Lake Siljan in Dalarna, Sweden, where traditional dress reflects the joys of rural life. Angela Crenshaw leads us through the pineapple plantations of the Philippines, where the past lingers in every fiber of piña fabric. And, of course, we have included a few stunning projects that offer a chance to explore a new cultural tradition. I hope you will enjoy this folk-wear journey.