Textiles for Revolutionary Russia: Training Textile Designers at the Moscow VKhUTEMAS

The vibrant textile designs produced in the Soviet Union in the 1920s were inspired by the need to create new styles of fabrics that would reflect the new society, inaugurated by the October Revolution of 1917. Fundamental to the success of this venture was the government’s determination to improve the quality of the country’s manufactured goods and, consequently, its recognition of the need to train artists for industry, including the textile industry. This led to the establishment of the Moscow VKhUTEMAS in late 1920 as a new type of art school, where innovative methods for training artists and designers were developed and implemented. This article focuses on the school: the nature of the Basic Course, which was obligatory for all students; the specialist courses formulated for aspiring textile designers; and the results of this revolutionary approach to art education and training.