H A R L E M   T E X T I L E   W O R K S  -  d e s i g n   a s   e n t e r p r i s e

Harlem Textile Works was founded in 1984 by Kerris Wolsky, who suffered an untimely death in the spring of 1998. It was originally established as a program that was part of the Children's Art Carnival, a Harlem-based arts and crafts school. I communicated with Kerris from Melbourne, Australia while I was completing my BA in Textile Design after learning about the important work she was doing. I traveled from Australia in 1996 to meet with her at HTW's 122nd Street east-side building, and began sharing my textile skills with HTW programs. I saw many changes of directors, board members and locations after Kerris passed away, and was determined to help keep HTW's vision alive. I stayed for 11 years - till 2007 when I moved out of state. I want to honor the contributions and positive change Kerris Wolsky made to NYC youth, the great partnerships she fostered and celebrate the brilliant woman she was. Please contact us with your own HTW stories so we can add them to this page. I am carrying on her legacy, using textile design as a tool to incorporate history and self-sustainability to underserved rural communities on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, and in Portland and St Thomas parishes, Jamaica.

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​All photographs, painting, illustration, textiles, books, product design and concepts by Monique de La Tour. copyright ©1997-2024 Monique de La Tour and protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)