A postcolonial subversion of The Strawberry Thief to document imperial thievery

A series of textile patterns as beautiful and as uncomfortable as the history they carry. Each piece replaces William Morris's English garden characters with the flora and fauna the British Empire destroyed or exploited in its former colonies.

— by CPYC

Featured editions

4 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