About
Founded in 2019 by Laura Moseley, Common Threads Press is a small, independent publisher of books and zines that uplift histories of creative work.
Our publications are written and developed in close collaboration with academics and artists alike, from all around the world, who share our deep love and critical interest in craft histories.
We are inspired by and indebted to the rich history of independent, grassroots publishing that centres voices from the margins — spotlighting the political and cultural relevance of crafts that has long been overlooked or dismissed in mainstream publishing.
What is a zine?
A zine is a small, self-published or handmade booklet that nurtures radical action. They can be an artwork, an act of documentation or an educational resource — but crucially they are anything you want it to be. The designation ‘zine’ signifies less about the content of the publication than it indicates its existence outside of mainstream publishing channels. For hundreds of years, zines have served underrepresented communities, uplifting the voices of those most frequently dismissed.
About the Founder
Laura Moseley is currently the Assistant Curator of the Women's Art Collection and a craft researcher based in Cambridge.
Laura has an BA in History of Art from the University of York, winning the dissertation prize for the thesis 'Indigenous and Modern Textiles: Ancient America in the Work of Anni Albers and Cecilia Vicuna' and an MA from University College London in History of Art, also winning the dissertation prize for the thesis 'A Diary of Touch: Rhetorics of Queer Identity in Contemporary Quilting Practices'.
Common Threads Press was established as Made by Women when Laura finished her BA, upon recognition that it was possible to realise a world of art history that was open to people from all research areas, backgrounds and financial situations, rather than a select few. Their experience making zines as a teenager and being President of the University of York Feminist Society was formative in giving Laura the skills needed to start the project. Our first bit of funding came from the Santander Student Business competition, run by the University of York, which Laura won in May 2019.
Laura has worked with arts institutions including the Norwich Castle Museum, Latitude Festival, and the Royal School of Needlework on projects related to social art histories, activist materials and political textiles. They have also run several events in the UK related to self-publishing, art history and activism, including Norwich Zine Fair and Latitude Zine Fest.
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The Team
Natalie Bell-Surette
Orla Heather Bond
Marisa Clements
Jameka Jennings-Baugh
Gabby Richards Wood
Chris Shortt
Follow Common Threads Press on Instagram at @commonthreadspress.