uPCOMING ACTIVIties
Manifestos for Change in the Arts, Crafts and Fashion - Leek Textile Week Webinar #6
Join us for the sixth in the series of insightful online talks on Wednesday 18th September at 3 pm BST. Join in for a compelling examination of the motivations behind manifestos, the issues they address, the purpose of their call to the wider public, and their impacts both intended and unintended in bringing about change.
The online speakers will include:
Liandra Van Staden – Manifesto for a Fashion Revolution
Sarah Corbett – How to be a Craftivist in the art of Gentle Protest
Sol Marinucci – Artisans Voices
Shehnaaj Bano – In conversation
Hosted by Dr Ritu Sethi, Director, League of Artisans
Reserve your seat here
18th SEPTEMBER, 2024, 3 pm BST
Location: Online / ZOOM
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts and Staffordshire Community Foundation. The Leek Textile talks are supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation (@nilajaipur).
PAST ACTIVITIES
BEYOND MICROFIBRES: the hiDDEN IMPACT OF TEXTILES ON WATERWAYS - Leek Textile Week Webinar #5
Join us for the fifth in the series of insightful online talks on Wednesday 11th September at 3 pm BST. Join in a compelling exploration into the unseen environmental impacts of textile fibres on aquatic ecosystems. While microplastic fibre pollution from washing machines is widely recognized, far less is understood about the effects of natural fibres, which are often chemically treated or dyed. Researchers from Keele, Loughborough, and Nottingham Universities will reveal their findings from studies at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, discussing how these fibres affect biodiversity, water quality, and even human health. Discover how seemingly 'natural' fibres could be contributing to a persistent, yet underreported, pollution crisis.
The online speakers will include:
Carry Somers – Tom Stanton – Antonia Law – Deirdre McKay
Khatri Abdul Rauf Abdul Razak – In conversation
Hosted by Dr Ritu Sethi, Director, League of Artisans
Reserve your seat here
11th SEPTEMBER, 2024, 3 pm BST
Location: Online / ZOOM
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts and Staffordshire Community Foundation. The Leek Textile talks are supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation (@nilajaipur).
Natural dyeing today: From the historic to cutting edge - Leek Textile Week Webinar #4
Join us for the fourth in the series of insightful online talks on Wed 31st July, where we discuss aspects of natural dyeing. From pioneering work on developing sustainable microbial colouration for the textile industry to the rejuvenating of the arts of natural dye painting on cotton and, to the farming of indigo, its extraction and dying on hand-spun yarns.
Celebrate the legacy craftsmanship with us and uncover the significance of natural dyeing to sustainable practices, cultural heritage and community development.
The online talk and the speakers will include:
Dian-Jen Lin - Creating Bio-based Colours by Blending Tradition with Innovation
Bappaditya Biswas - Re-earthing the arts of natural dye painting
Ojasvi Peshawaria - Indigo Revival Project with the Women Community of Malikpur
Pinky Devi - In conversation
Hosted by Dr Ritu Sethi, Director, League of Artisans
Reserve your seat here
31st JULY, 2024, 5 pm BST
Location: Online / ZOOM
View the talk on our YouTube Channel: Click Here
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts and Staffordshire Community Foundation. The Leek Textile talks are supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation (@nilajaipur).
Following the thread: Silk, Cotton, Flax - Leek Textile Week Webinar #3
Join us for the third in the series of insightful online talks on Friday 14th June, where we discuss aspects of the natural fibres. From the pioneering work of Sir Thomas Wardle in introducing wild silk from India to the global market, the exploration of indigenous cotton varieties like Kala cotton and their weaving, to shedding light on the fascinating journey from flax cultivation to the creation of beautiful, sustainable linen textiles. Celebrate the legacy of traditional craftsmanship with us and uncover the significance of these natural fibres to sustainable practices, cultural heritage and community development.
The online talk and the speakers include:
Karen Selk - Collaboration Opens World Market to Indian Silk
Ghatit Laheru - Khamir's experiments with Kala cotton
Lorna and Stephen Knight - Our Flax to Linen Project
Vankar Shamjibhai Vishram - In conversation
Moderated by Anuradha Singh
Hosted by Dr Ritu Sethi
Reserve your seat here
14TH JUNE, 2024, 5 pm BST
Location: Online / ZOOM
View the talk on our YouTube Channel: Click Here
The Leek Textile Week is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and support and funds from OUTSIDE Arts. The Leek Textile talks are supported by Nila House, Lady Bamford Trust (@nilajaipur)
TEXTILE BLOCK PRINTING PAST AND PRESENT @ LEEK TEXTILE WEEK WEBINAR #2
Join us for an insightful online talks on Friday 12th April, where we will discuss aspects of hand block printing. We will find out more about Sir Thomas Wardle’s experiments with natural dyes, the important role played by Indian artisans through their knowledge of plant dyes, as well as the continuing tradition of Indian block printing and its global connections today.
The online talk and the speakers include:
Dr Rajarshi Sengupta: Wardle and the Plurality of Red Dyes of India
Prof Eiluned Edwards in conversation with award-winning master block printers Abduljabbar Mohammad Khatri and Adam Khatri - From Kachchh to the World: Block Prints in Commerce, Culture and History
Meeta Mastani: From Oxfam to the Poetry of Revolt
Hosted by Dr Ritu Sethi
Reserve your seat here
12TH APRIL, 2024, 5 pm BST
Location: Online / ZOOM
View the talk on our YouTube Channel: Click Here
The Leek Textile Week is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and support and funds from OUTSIDE Arts.
We are grateful for support from Nila House, Lady Bamford Foundation
LEEK TEXTILE WEEKEND WEBINAR #1
Join us for an insightful online talk on 16th January, exploring aspects of Leek’s textile industry, the intricacies of the art and craft movement, the historic collaboration between William Morris and Sir Thomas Wardle, the continuing tradition of Indian raw silk and its connections with Leek and Sir Thomas Wardle, and other continuities.
The talks and speakers for the event include:
Emma Ferry: Strawberry Thief: Making an iconic fabric
Róisín Inglesby: Distant Fellowship: Past and present links between William Morris and South Asia
Juhi Pandey: Wild Eri Silk: Conscious fibre for slow fashion
Hosted by Ritu Sethi
Reserve your seat here
16TH JANUARY, 2024, 5 pm GMT
Location: Online / ZOOM
View the talk on our YouTube Channel: Click Here
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. This project is part-funded by UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the form of a Cultural Arts and Heritage grant from SMDC, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts.
With technical support from the British Council.
Saima Kaur workshop - Introduction to Indian Hand Embroidery @ LEEK TEXTILE WEEKEND
Join artist Saima Kaur for a fascinating talk on Phulkari embroideries from Punjab, India. Saima will use contemporary and antique textiles from her collection to explore how, where, when and why these embroideries were created and by whom. The talk promises to be interactive and full of historical and personal stories.
Reserve your seat here
20TH JANUARY, 2024
Location: Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, UK
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. This project is part-funded by UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the form of a Cultural Arts and Heritage grant from SMDC, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts.
KATE TURNBULL workshop - NATURAL DYES @ LEEK TEXTILE WEEKEND
Step into a world of natural, seasonal colours guided by the Oxford-based artist Kate Turnbull.
You'll get step-by-step instructions on how to use natural dyes, learn about useful foraging techniques, dye plant identification and botanical dye extraction as well as gaining tips on creating your own natural palette from biowaste.
Take inspiration from nature and find some naturally alternative ways to dye the clothes you wear and form a new relationship with the outdoors.
You'll also gain insights on how to combat the more toxic elements of the textile industry and create fabrics which can be returned to the ground at the end of their use.
Reserve your seat here
20TH JANUARY, 2024, 1.30-3.30 pm
Location: Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, UK
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. This project is part-funded by UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the form of a Cultural Arts and Heritage grant from SMDC, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts.
LEEK TEXTILE WEEKEND
Join us for a weekend packed with celebrations as we honour our town’s rich textile heritage through community-focused activities, talks and exhibitions that weave threads of past into the present, spinning new connections with Indian artisans whose knowledge helped transform local industry.
Reserve your seat here
16th JAN 2024 TIME: 5 pm @ ONLINE
20th JAN 2024 TIME: 9.30 am - 5 pm @ Foxlowe Arts Centre
20th / 21th JAN 2024 @ Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery
Leek Textile Weekend is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. This project is part-funded by UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the form of a Cultural Arts and Heritage grant from SMDC, as well as funding and support from OUTSIDE Arts.
A Non Profit Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee, Company Number 14560894. 70 Derby Street, Leek, Staffordshire, UK.
Website designed by Irregulars Alliance LLP