Lea Culetto: Fabric Manipulation, workshop

In the frame of SAiR project, on 19 June 2025 Lea Culetto conducted a workshop related to the artistic production process that she is developing during her stay at Matadero's Center for Artistic Residencies.

Fabric manipulation also known as smocking is a historical way of pleating fabric by embroidery and sewing, creating decorative textured pattern.

Originated in England in the Middle Ages, when clothing patterns were simple, embroidered pleats provided a form of decoration and added fullness to dresses. In rural communities was used as an embellishment, but it served a practical purpose. Pleated fabric was stretchy and comfortable, ensuring the clothes would fit for longer periods of time.

Smocking transcended over decades and became purely decorative. At the workshop the participant took a look at different smocking designs and learnt basic technique of American smocking that can be used on almost any weight of fabric, creating embellishments on clothes or decorative pieces such as pillow covers.