ARACHNE is an almanac of clothing, fashion, lifestyle, popular culture, music and art in Vienna. It explores happenings in the city - including the work of the fashion design class at the University of Applied Arts - and beyond, offering a unique mix of fashion editorials, illustrations, essays, art, short stories, reviews and interviews. The publication owes its name to the ancient Greek myth of Arachne, a weaver so talented that she challenged Athena, the goddess of wisdom and crafts, to a weaving contest. Athena punished Arachne for her hubris by turning her into a spider.

Archaeologists and textile historians bring together 16 papers to investigate the production, trade and consumption of textiles in Scandinavia and across parts of northern and Mediterranean Europe throughout the medieval period. Archaeological evidence is used to demonstrate the existence or otherwise of international trade and to examine the physical characteristics of textiles and their distribution in order to understand who was producing, using and trading them and what they were being used for. Historical evidence, mainly textual, is employed to link textile names to places, numbers and prices and thus provide an appreciation of changing economics, patterns of distribution and the organisation of trade. Different types and qualities of cloths are discussed and the social implications of their production and import/export considered against a developing background of urbanism and increasing commercial wealth.

While the topic of sustainability in textile manufacture has been the subject of considerable research, much of this is limited to a focus on materials and practices and their ecological impact. Padovani and Whittaker offer a unique exploration of the textile industry in Europe from the perspective of social sustainability, shifting the focus from the materiality of textile production to the industry's relationships with the communities from which the products originate. Featuring six in-depth case studies from design entrepreneurs, artisans and textile businesses around Europe, from Harris Tweed in Scotland to luxury woollen mills in Italy, Sustainability and the Social Fabric explores how new centres of textile manufacturing have emerged from the economic decline in 2008, responding creatively and producing socially inclusive approaches to textile production. Case studies each represent a different approach to social sustainability and are supported by interviews with industry leaders and comparisons to the global textile industry. Demonstrating how some companies are rebuilding the local social fabric to encourage consumer participation through education, enterprise, health and wellbeing, the book suggests innovative business models that are economically successful and also, in turn, support wider societal issues.

A must-read for Civil War enthusiasts and quilters seeking accurate information on reproducing Civil War quilts. The stories of fourteen extraordinary Civil War quilts and the women who made them bring you face to face with the drama of war and its effect on thousands of lives. Some of these quilts tell love stories, others relate the determination of women seeking an active role in the war effort, but all represent efforts to support the fighting men. Each of these quilts tells stories of struggle and survival. The book contains patterns and information for making "block by block" or "potholder" quilts, with 40 traceable quilt block patterns with templates for hand piecing or rotary cutting for machine piecing. Also included is information on reproduction fabrics and how to participate in modern soldier-related community service quilting. This second edition also features a lively discussion of the Jane Stickle quilt, one of the most famous quilts made during the Civil War. With patterns rich in personal histories and strong visuals, author Pamela Weeks continues to deliver, and then some.