STUDIO STEGE - THE NETHERLANDS
“Led by Bianka Stege—a weaver, artist art historian and storyteller — STUDIO STEGE explores the sacred intersection of craft, history and sustainability. Our work reimagines textiles as enduring vessels for personal stories and cultural heritage, bridging the boundaries between craft, design and art to honor both tradition and innovation.
Our ongoing project, “Bridges: Four Shrouds for Life”, transforms Dutch sheep’s wool—a natural resource often discarded as waste—and locally foraged natural dyes into sustainable, handwoven textiles. Drawing on the ancient and universal tradition of ceremonial shrouds, we create “shrouds for life” designed to accompany individuals throughout life’s stages. These versatile pieces, crafted collaboratively with clients, embody their personal stories and can be used daily—whether as a comforting blanket, a bedspread, a wall tapestry or a yoga mat. Ultimately, they serve as shrouds or burial cloths, completing the circle of life and challenging the disposable culture through their timeless relevance.
Bianka reflects on the inspiration for this work: “Funeral rituals, despite their inherent sorrow, have been deeply healing for me. The mystique of historical shrouds, particularly the Shroud of Turin, intrigues me as a weaver and historian. Its technique, material, and symbolism inspire me to explore how textiles can convey warmth, tactility, and connection. Global traditions, such as Middle Eastern wedding textiles that serve as heirlooms and eventually as funeral shrouds, reflect an enduring appreciation for the sacred and reusable qualities of cloth. This is a stark contrast to the throwaway culture we face today, which I aim to challenge by weaving meaning and purpose into every thread.”
Our project draws from diverse cultural and historical textile traditions while pushing the boundaries of contemporary design and sustainability. By experimenting with weaving techniques, natural dyes and embracing the circle-of-life concept, we craft textiles that evoke personal and collective narratives, creating an enduring link between past and future.
At XTANT 2025, we hope to contribute to the theme of the sacred by sharing our journey of creating textiles that embody the profound connections between life, death and regeneration. Through the lens of craft, history, and collaboration, we strive to honor the sacred essence of weaving and its enduring power to heal and inspire.”
-Taken from STUDIO STEGE
