Browsing by Subject "ryijy"

The aim of this qualitative research was to study rya technique’s use in clothes between the 1960s and 2017. Rya is a Nordic craft technique that is traditionally seen as a wall hanging or a rug; but in fact, it was originally used as an utility article rather than a decorative textile. It was only later that it was recognized as a valued art textile. The Vikings for instance replaced their furcapes with rya because of its practical value but now it is used in clothing more for its aesthetic qualities. Studies so far have focussed exclusively on rya’s most well-known use as a decorative article therefore leaving a vacuum in the literature. The current study fills that gap by taking a different perspective on rya as a technique that adds another level to clothes. The current study was undertaken using content analysis based on 25 visual data on clothing items that used the rya technique. This secondary data was collected from a few books, but mostly from the internet using sites like Google, Pinterest and Instagram. The analysis was done by grouping the data into themes that emerged through the researcher’s observation. The themes were rya’s location, composition, patterning, design and colour as well as pile’s density, length, yarn’s spiral grain and the item’s date. Rya technique was used in a variety of clothe types but mostly in jackets. As a decorative technique, it was mostly placed on the whole garment rather than just as a detail. Usually, it was multi-coloured, adding a multi-dimensional effect to the clothing article. Natural and abstract shapes were more common than geometrical and performative shapes. The most unusual clothing article with rya technique was a bodysuit which demonstrated rya’s versatility and creative application to any kind of clothing if desired. The findings of this study indicate that rya has tremendous possibilities as a design technique for adding unique texture to clothes due to its three-dimensional characteristics. With this technique, it is possible to design interesting details to clothes that would rather appear somewhat plain, for example to a minimalistic shirt’s sleeves. Although more studies need to be done in order to establish rya technique’s use in clothes, the findings of this study is important as it adds another dimension to the literature and points the way to further research on the topic.