our new project...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:28:54 GMT

The WEAVE project seeks to rebuild connections between designers, makers and commissioners in the fashion and textile industries in the North East which have been lost as the industry has restructured. The aim is to create new trading and employment opportunities for fashion and costume designers, and people with technical and textile skills in the North East England.

The project is led by Jane Shaw of Blue Sky Think / Culture Work with initial funding from the RSA Catalyst Fund and emerges from collective working experiences pointing to a structural gap in the organisation of the design, manufacture and marketing of textile goods and innovations in the region.

This assessment has subsequently been affirmed by a variety of people close to the industry including the fashion and design departments within Sunderland, Teesside and Northumbria Universities, Cleveland College of Art and Design Network North East.

The picture is of three broad groups which are not closely engaged with each other and are potentially missing opportunities as a consequence:

Designers with vision and drive but lacking the productive capacity necessary to exploit business opportunities and gain a foothold in the marketplace.

Makers with the textile skills who are essential to bringing ideas to fruition but often lack the commercial savvy to make things happen for themselves. Few amongst this group would consider themselves creative practitioners. They are largely people who have developed their skills as employees in low income jobs in a sector which has massively declined in the North East. Others have developed skills as part of a cultural tradition, particularly in immigrant communities, or through engagement in hobby activities. Characteristically, they lack business confidence and undervalue the market potential of their skills.

Commissioners of fashion and costume goods with bespoke requirements but without ready access to the disparate groups of designers and makers as described above. This group includes, for example; independent commercial retailers, theatre companies, heritage and educational organisations, private individuals and performing arts groups.

This disconnect is not apparent in countries such as Italy where the relationship between buyers, makers and designers is close and underpins their success. The Italian model is based on ancient guild traditions and other cultural factors which are not replicable in the UK.

The WEAVE project seeks therefore to provide an alternative means of strengthening these essential relationships across the industry and is testing an electronic networking platform as a modern solution to the disconnect between these different groups, enabling designers to access the key textile and technical skills they need to, for example, create collections; it will provide new opportunities for those with technical skills who are currently cut adrift from the sector and commercial networks; and will create opportunities for both designers and makers to establish working relationships with commissioners.

The project is one which to date has garnered the support of cultural industry providers within higher education; those responsible for economic regeneration; creative industry support agencies; and digital service development organisations.

Northern Cultural Skills Partnership - WEAVE News Feed

our new project...