The Mad Silkman

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This beautifully designed publication explores the influential ASCHER Studio, a key player in post-war fashion known for its exquisite fabrics favored by couturiers for their drape, vibrant colors, and unique patterns. While the brand remains largely unknown in the Czech Republic, it has been synonymous with fine textile design in Western Europe for over seventy years. The narrative follows Zika Ascher and his wife Lida, whose lives unfolded against the backdrop of 20th-century history. After fleeing Czechoslovakia in 1939, they established a successful London enterprise specializing in fashion fabrics. Renowned designers and fashion houses, including Dior, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent, selected Ascher textiles for their collections. The couple gained particular acclaim for their Squares, a luxurious scarf collection featuring designs by celebrated artists like Henry Moore and Henri Matisse. The book intricately weaves together the various facets of their lives, providing a comprehensive account that transcends individual artistic, technical, and business achievements. It also pays significant attention to their pre-exile years in Czechoslovakia and the developments in their homeland, which they never forgot. Authored by Konstantina Hlaváčková, curator of the textiles and fashion collection at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the publication includes childhood memories from their son, Peter Ascher.