This book draws on highlights from the V & A's fabulous collections of woven, printed and embroidered textiles and their designs. Based on the "V & A's British Textiles" series, and with a new introduction by Linda Parry, this comprehensive compendium brings together a visual history of British fabrics with over 1000 images. They show the amazing creative abilities of professional and amateur designers over three centuries. International experts introduce each period and the textiles produced in it. They discuss technical and artistic innovations and provide an invaluable reading list, glossary of terms and biographies of the chief figures of the era. Linda Parry was a curator in the textile department of the V & A for over thirty years. She is the author of numerous books including "William Morris Textiles" (1983), "Textiles of the Arts and Crafts Movement" (1988) and co-editor of "International Arts and Crafts" (V & A 2005).