A postcolonial subversion of Britain’s beloved Strawberry Thief pattern to document imperial thievery

A series of textile patterns as beautiful and as uncomfortable as the history they carry: Each piece depicts a former British colony or territory, replacing William Morris's English garden with the flora and fauna the British Empire destroyed or exploited in that region

— by CPYC

Featured editions

7 out of 26* editions completed so far. Full Pattern Catalogue and supporting information available here

Other editions in the backlog

✴I am seeking the help of postcolonial scholars, historians, and conservationists, to help with approaching the naming and designs for these regions in a manner that is respectful and sensitive to the local peoples. Please reach out if you have any tips or suggestions!

  • South Asia*

    Malaya*

    Hong Kong & China*

    Myanmar / Burma

    Sri Lanka / Ceylon

  • Palestine / Israel

    Egypt

    Iraq

    Jordan

    Kurdistan

  • Aotearoa (New Zealand)*

    Australia - work in progress

    Fiji

    Small Pacific States: Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru

  • Jamaica

    Barbados

    Trinidad & Guyana

    Turtle Island (Canada & USA)

    Other Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat

  • Kenya

    East Africa (Tanzania, Uganda & Zanzibar)

    Nigeria

    Ghana / Gold Coast

    West Africa (Sierra Leone + Gambia)

    Zimbabwe / Rhodesia

    South Africa

    Southern Africa (Botswana + Namibia + Lesotho + Eswatini/Swaziland)

  • Mediterranean (Cyprus & Malta)

    Ireland