Cut Cloth
Cloth Haven is an art space dedicated to textiles, and sadly, it’s closing its doors.
It’s a well-known story. Much-loved shops come and go, thanks to our ruthless property market that continues to encroach on the city’s alternative spaces. Next on the list of places facing the axe is Cloth Haven; an alternative art space soon to vacate its home off Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan once its lease runs out next month.
Opened four years ago by former film costume designer Edith Cheung, Cloth Haven is a creative space that also displays textile-based creations, from professional costumes to a weaved mat that you can design yourself. People in the neighborhood often mistake it for anything from an antique shop to a lighting seller.
“There is nothing to buy here!” is a comment Cheung often receives from visitors. “People are not used to going to a place with nothing for sale,“ says Cheung, who received discouraging comments when she first opened. “People came and asked how much rent I was paying, suggesting that it didn’t make sense for me to set up something unprofitable. But people now have begun to accept the idea of an alternative way of life.”
Playful exhibitions, mixed-theme workshops and an interactive, welcoming approach make Cloth Haven unique. The most memorable exhibition has to be the one on handkerchiefs, which sparked a positive response from visitors.
“It struck a chord with people, and it made them want to contribute to the exhibition too,” says Cheung, who plays the role of curator. “After her visit, an old woman brought me a handkerchief given to her by her lover when she was young, and another person brought me her collection of Snoopy handkerchiefs. It’s an unexpected bonus that people want to interact with the exhibitions. I am only the initiator.”
Cloth and the Community
To Cheung and people in the neighborhood, Cloth Haven is a kind of community center. “This is a place open to the public so people will drop by for a chat or a snack,” says Cheung. “They enjoy themselves here, even if they may not know one another.” The workshops are an integral part of the experience, and students are understandably dismayed that Cloth Haven is closing.
