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
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