Beyond the Silk Road, Across the Seas
Circulations of Textiles, Ideas, and Techniques before 1800
9th Symposium of International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT)
October 9–12, 2025
UC Berkeley
California, USA
The ‘Silk Road’, which initially signified the overland trade networks extending from China to the Mediterranean, has evolved to encompass maritime trade networks spanning the various oceans and extending across the globe. The IASSRT 9 interdisciplinary gathering invites scholars from art history, anthropology, history, textile studies, conservation, and related fields to present research that explores the dynamic exchanges along pre-19th century maritime trade routes.
Given the conference’s location in California, we particularly encourage (but are not limiting to) papers that investigate interactions along or with the Pacific Rim. This region encompasses coastal lands from Southeast Asia through China, Japan, and Korea, extending across the North Pacific via Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands, the Bering Strait, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Western North America, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.We look for how these interactions such as historical migration, colonial power, and economic forces influenced the circulation of goods, ideas, and techniques that ultimately shaped textile production, consumption, and artistic expression.
Some possible topics are:
-Dress: integrations of new fashion trends and their local adaptations.
-Trade and Migration: movements of textile materials, dyes, plants, and artisans across the maritime routes.
-Iconography and Meaning: transfers and transformations of visual motifs and their cultural significance.
-Techniques and Production: introductions of new technologies, as well as the rediscovery of ancient textile techniques and artistic practices.
SYMPOSIUM FORMAT
-Two-day academic program, featuring presentations and discussions.
-Optional workshops and tours, and other cultural experiences (fees apply).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Send the following materials to Luo Yaomin at: luoyaomin118@126.com
- Registration Information (see below)
Name (first, last)
Title
Position and Institutions
Nationality
Email - Lecture title and abstract (between 250–350 words)
- One key image from lecture (jpeg format with caption)
- One-page CV or a short bio
- A headshot (to be included in the program announcement)
DEADLINE: May 30, 2025.
Accepted proposals will be notified by June 15, 2025. A limited number of scholarships are available for young scholars. Please indicate any financial assistance needs in your proposal submission.
CONTACTS
- For submission: luoyaomin118@126.com
- For general inquiries: tangsilkroadcenter@berkeley.edu
- For Invitation Letter for Visa application: tangsilkroadcenter@berkeley.edu
