Selvedge - Issue 132 LEGACY

This issue explores the theme of legacy — the objects, skills, and traditions we inherit, and what determines whether they endure. Founder Polly Leonard opens with a visit to Nantucket, where she reflects on scrimshaw, the intricate whalebone carving once practised by 18th- and 19th-century sailors. With whalebone now heavily restricted, she considers what survival looks like for a craft whose original material and market have all but disappeared, and asks whether traditional techniques can find new relevance with contemporary audiences. The issue carries this thread further: Kim Winter traces how willow basketry has moved from everyday domestic use into the design world, while Sonia Ashmore examines the Spitalfields weavers through the lens of contemporary fashion. Together, the pieces consider authenticity, adaptation, and how craft objects shift from utilitarian tools to museum pieces — closing with a question for readers: what will you leave behind?