Cento [sen-toh]
Latin, cento (plural centones from Greek kentrōn meaing “patchwork” or “rag”): a garment made of several pieces sewn together, typically a patchwork cloak, blanket, or curtain.
Our ‘Cento’ range of community coats are hand-crafted, wearable artworks made collectively by docklands residents. They are created from individual patches, each one hand worked by a local community member. Through their design, these coats tell stories that resonate with the local community and the events that shape their lives. Participants contribute drawings, words, patterns, symbols, and textiles reflecting personal memories, shared histories, and hopes for the future. These ideas are then stitched, painted, printed, and layered onto the coats, turning them into rich, tactile story-objects rather than conventional garments.
Threads of Nectar is the latest in our series of community made garments, exploring the lifecycle of bees through hexagonal patches. The use of golds and yellows, combined with the intertwined handwoven patchwork of bee imagery evokes the lifecycle of bee and the rich colours of honey.
Earlier coats include ‘The Place I call Home’ and ‘Myrninerest’ the spirit of Madge Gill, a self-taught artist whose roots lay firmly in the working class communitues of east London.
Thank you to NHG for their continued support
