Dr Keireine Canavan
Principal Lecturer
Cardiff School of Art & Design
- PhD MDes MA RCA BA (hons)
Overview
I trained as a constructed textile designer, specialising in weave and knit under the auspices of leading textile designer, Marion Straub OBE at Liverpool (1976-1979). I continued my studies for an MA in knitted textile design at the Royal College of Art in London (1979-1981), before working in industry and designing knitwear for the Italian fashion house Missoni, and fashion brand Thierry Mugler. I established my own Keireine Knitwear brand and retail business in 1985, and returned to education in 1993 to complete an MDes degree: Textile Design with Computer Application at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. This led me to combine hand and digital technology and in 2003 I achieved my PhD entitled ‘Dayak to Digital: Traditional ikat for contemporary patterned knitted textiles’ and was awarded the McFarlane Award for research excellence and contribution to the textile sector.
In 2004 I was appointed Programme Director of Textile at Cardiff Metropolitan University until 2021, and am currently Principal Lecturer, responsible for sustainability in the Cardiff School of Art & Design curriculum, including natural dyeing, sustainable fibre, materials and technology, as well as textile degree awards to PhD level. I contribute to the textile historical and theoretical curriculum across the School and externally examine PhDs at numerous universities, including the Royal College of Art, Heriot-Watt University, Middlesex University and London School of Fashion.
As textile educator and world specialist in traditional tribal weaving techniques and semiotics, I have published my doctoral research and continued my post-doctoral research with Al-Sadu Bedouin weavers in the Gulf countries, Iban Dayak backstrap ikat weavers in Maylay-Indonesia, and Patola weavers in NW Gujarat, India.
I am passionate about the nomadic lifestyle, camels and textile camel trappings. I return to Kuwait and the Gulf Region regularly, where I have resided for part of each year, with my family, since 2004.
Research Publications
In Practice
Dennis, C. (Artist), Ayscough, D. (Artist), Canavan, K. (Artist), Curneen, C. (Artist), Edmunds, L. (Artist), Holzer, L. (Artist), Lawrence, P. (Artist), Pigott, J. (Artist), Murphy, I. (Artist), Mayo, N. (Artist), Williams, H. (Artist) & Kingston, C. (Producer), 2025Research output: Non-textual form › Exhibition
Traditional Bedouin al-Sadu Weaving and New Solutions
Canavan, K., 1 Jun 2022, Craft Shaping Society : Educating in the Crafts—The Global Experience. Springer, p. 103-114 12 p. (Technical and Vocational Education and Training; vol. 35).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Caring Through Cloth: Textiles and the Trauma of Stillbirth
Porch, L., Canavan, K., Treadaway, C. & Cazeaux, C., 8 Feb 2022, In: Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture. 21, 2, p. 491-508 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Responses of Kuwaiti government dwelling occupants regarding their perception, preferences, and behaviours
Alhazim, M., Littlewood, J., Canavan, K. & Carey, P., 1 Jul 2015, AEI 2015: Birth and Life of the Integrated Building - Proceedings of the AEI Conference 2015. Raebel, C. H. (ed.). American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), p. 826-837 12 p. (AEI 2015: Birth and Life of the Integrated Building - Proceedings of the AEI Conference 2015).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Applications of Textile Products
Canavan, K., 21 Nov 2014, Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and Technology. Elsevier Inc., p. 531-545 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Material symbols of traditional Bedouin al-Sadu weavings of Kuwait
Canavan, K. & Alnajadah, A., Jul 2013, In: Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture. 11, 2, p. 152-165 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Design philosophy of the traditional kuwaiti house
Alhazim, M., Littlewood, J., Canavan, K. & Carey, P., 1 Jun 2013, AEI 2013: Building Solutions for Architectural Engineering - Proceedings of the 2013 Architectural Engineering National Conference. p. 1018-1029 12 p. (AEI 2013: Building Solutions for Architectural Engineering - Proceedings of the 2013 Architectural Engineering National Conference).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review