Leek Textile Weekend
In a celebration of the town’s rich textile heritage, Leek Textile Weekend will comprise a series of community-focused activities, talks and exhibitions that weave threads of the past into the present, spinning new connections with Indian artisans whose knowledge helped transform the local industry. Brought to you by League of Artisans, Leek Textile Weekend will run from 20-21 January 2024.
With a focus on the skills for which Leek became world-famous—silk, natural dyes, block prints and embroidery—we will pay homage to William Morris’ acclaimed collaboration with Sir Thomas Wardle, reveal the important role played by Indian artisans through their knowledge of plant dyes and wild silk, celebrate the magnificent work of the Leek Embroidery Society. But this is more than a historic legacy, visible only in crumbling mill buildings and a few blue plaques. Leek was once home to the UK textile workers’ union, and we will use Leek Textile Week to discuss how the knowledge that shaped fashion’s past can also transform its future.
With a focus on the skills for which Leek became world-famous—silk, natural dyes, block prints and embroidery—we will pay homage to William Morris’ acclaimed collaboration with Sir Thomas Wardle, reveal the important role played by Indian artisans through their knowledge of plant dyes and wild silk, celebrate the magnificent work of the Leek Embroidery Society. But this is more than a historic legacy, visible only in crumbling mill buildings and a few blue plaques. Leek was once home to the UK textile workers’ union, and we will use Leek Textile Week to discuss how the knowledge that shaped fashion’s past can also transform its future.
Want to read more of this article?
We are proud to be a subscriber-funded publication with members in 185 countries. We know our readership is passionate about textiles, so we invite you to help us preserve and promote the stories, memories, and histories that fabric holds. Your support allows us to publish our magazine, and also ‘what's on’ information, and subscription interviews, reviews, and long-read articles in our online blog.
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? CLICK HERE TO ACCESS CONTENT
1 comment
Sounds excellent!