大象传媒

Kaffe Fassett鈥檚 textiles are unmistakable: in bright cerise and crimson and cobalt, his stripes and flowers burst onto the scene back in the seventies, and he鈥檚 been designing ever since. Brought up in a log cabin on the Californian coast, he鈥檚 lived for fifty years in Kilburn, north-west London, a house where every surface is painted or mosaicked or embroidered 鈥� and stuffed full of antique textiles and pots. In fact, it鈥檚 so full of stuff that his partner, Brandon, had to retreat to a white room of his own. But Kaffe would like us all to get sewing, or embroidering or knitting. He鈥檚 the author of numerous books which share his designs, and currently has an exhibition of his quilts at the Fashion and Textile Museum that will soon travel around Scotland.

In conversation with Michael Berkeley, Kaffe reveals that he first left California for Britain as a young man after a chance meeting with Christopher Isherwood, who so beguiled him that he was determined to see Europe for himself. He talks about growing up gay at a time when it was still illegal, and how he never felt he fitted in 鈥� he was the boy at school wearing bright orange corduroy. He reveals that he bought some wool and then begged a woman opposite him on the train home to teach him to knit. Since then, he鈥檚 never looked back, and however busy he is, he makes time to knit and embroider, finding it a chance to meditate and recover.

His music choices include Arvo P盲rt, The Beatles and Schumann鈥檚 鈥淪cenes from Childhood鈥�.