This article is contributed by Sasha Grigorieff, an American student in Donghua University's Textile Science program. He shares his journey from studying textile design at RISD and working in New York, to discovering China's rich weaving heritage and pursuing further studies in Shanghai.

My name is Sasha Grigorieff. I am currently studying textile science at Donghua University. Before coming to China, I worked for several years at Luum Textiles in New York, where I was part of the product development team. Before that, I studied Textile Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). After completing my master's degree at Donghua, I hope to pursue a career in textile preservation and conservation.

Living in Songjiang has given me a new perspective on textile history. Before coming to China, I was familiar with the history of European and American textiles, but I knew relatively little about Chinese textile traditions. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to learn about Songjiang's weaving heritage, local fabrics, and the important role this region has played in the history of Chinese textiles. Experiencing this history in the place where it developed has made it much more meaningful than simply reading about it in books.

I met Teacher Yang Shaojiang at a calligraphy event last year. My Chinese  teacher had encouraged me to take calligraphy classes, and my calligraphy teacher later invited me to participate in the event where we met. Since then, Teacher Yang has introduced me to the history of Songjiang textiles and shared many local stories that I would not have encountered in a classroom. His knowledge has helped me better understand the cultural background behind the fabrics of the region.

My undergraduate education at RISD focused on textile design and production. I learned to weave on a wide range of equipment, from traditional hand looms to modern computerized Jacquard looms and industrial knitting machines. Throughout my studies, I was interested in how traditional textile techniques could be combined with new technology.

For my thesis project, I designed a series of woven textiles with touch sensors embedded directly into the fabric. When someone touched the textiles, they produced different musical sounds. The project explored the idea that textiles are not only visual objects but also interactive materials that people experience through touch. By combining hand weaving, electronics, and computer programming, I created an installation in which visitors could interact with the fabrics and create music together.

After graduating from RISD, I joined Luum Textiles in New York. My work included designing new weave patterns, coordinating dye developments, and working with textile mills to develop new products. During this time, I learned about textile engineering, dye chemistry, finishing technologies, and new fiber developments. I also worked closely with a textile technician whose background in textile engineering encouraged me to explore the scientific side of textiles in greater depth.

As I learned more about the field, I became interested in textile conservation because it brings together science, history, and craftsmanship. Conservators need to understand not only the  physical and chemical structure of textiles, but also the historical and cultural context in which they were made. It’s usually preferred that professional conservators be fluent in at least two languages. That combination of disciplines matched my own interests and led me to pursue graduate study.

I chose Donghua University because it offered the opportunity to study textile science while improving my Chinese language skills. Just as importantly, studying in Shanghai has allowed me to experience one of the world's most significant textile regions firsthand. The knowledge I have gained here has come not only from my coursework, but also from conversations with local scholars, artists, and teachers, and from spending time in places with a long textile history. I am very pleased with my decision so far. I have had the most amazing experience at Donghua University. After just one year I have learned so many new things and met so many wonderful people.

Source: Donghua University