ABOUT



Contemporary textile design – handcrafted in Canada

NATALIE GERBER began her studies in 1995 at The Natal Technikon, in the Fashion Design program, Durban (South Africa). After immigrating to Canada her interests in textiles and design developed while studying at The Alberta University of the Arts, formerly known as Alberta College of Art + Design. Natalie earned a BFA Degree (with Distinction) in Fibre/Textiles in 2003, and later in 2007, a post-graduate Certificate in Creative Pattern Cutting for the Fashion Industry, from the London College of Fashion in London (England).

Natalie’s work can be found in select boutiques and galleries across Canada or in her Calgary based textile printing studio located at cSpace King Edward.

INSPIRATION

As an artist, designer and maker I am inspired to create functional design for everyday living. I combine my love for surface design, clean lines and hand printed fabrics with conscious material choices and in-studio practices. 



My South African background influences my aesthetic. From a detailed sketch, mark or line drawing, I explore colour and pattern then apply the outcomes of these explorations to cloth through the process of silkscreen printing. 



My studio practice is focused on boutique small scale production, hand printed textiles. I am further motivated by meaningful partnerships which have led me to explore cross-cultural fair-trade opportunities and interdisciplinary collaborations over the years.

Recently I relocated my home-based studio to cSpace King Edward, Calgary’s newest creative hub. Having a public space has allowed me to open my studio to others and share my love for surface design through a range of workshops that explore fibre based arts.

Creative alliances provide opportunities for knowledge sharing that I believe add to my experience as an artist and designer. This ethos has extended into my studio practice by offering textile printing and design services to a broader community. Most recently the studio has printed fabrics for Fogo Island Inn Shop and Ontario based interior design studio Coco & Jack.