Shining a Spotlight on Scottish Textiles

Re-Designed is a new initiative involving Scottish designers, manufacturer and textile producers. The aim of the project which is part funded by the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland is to promote Scottish design on an international stage. As part of New York’s Scotland Week events twelve carefully selected exhibitors will be showcasing their work in the city. The exhibition will move to Glasgow’s Lighthouse gallery in June. A panel of fashion experts from the world of manufacturing, interiors and design will choose designers and producer who best represent Scotland’s contribution to fashion and textiles. With a strong nod to Scotland’s traditional crafts the exhibitors include a milliner, a cashmere producer, and a textiles company. Commenting on the need for collaboration, milliner, William Chambers said: “Scotland has a great pool of talent and when we get together I think there’s strength in numbers…I like that most of us are living and working in Scotland. That excites me, and I think that us all going over to New York together helps to show it can be done” Indeed Scotland’s textiles have a long and celebrated heritage of producing quality products that are worn the world over - Harris Tweed Made by the islanders of Outer Hebrides Harris Tweed is one of the world's most iconic fabrics. Scotland's tartans also celebrated across the world! Today the sector supplies over 150 countries has an annual turnover of £756 million. There is much to celebrate in 2012 as business is booming. Key to ensuring continued demand overseas will be those in the industry making key contacts further afield and Re:Designed looks like a promising way of helping Scottish talent expose their designs to an international audience. The founder of Re:Designed, Chris Hunt emphasised the excellent reputation of Scotland’s textiles, the perception in America is that the Scottish textiles industry offers ‘quality manufacturing and design full of skill’ In creating a platform for Scottish creatives Hunt hopes that both established and new businesses will flourish ‘working with mills and designers as I do, there’s a greater than ever sense of global brands and retailers coming back to Scotland to buy quality design and manufacturing, supporting our incredibly vibrant fashion and textiles industry. Given the New York’s importance to the fashion scene and the warm relations between Scotland and America displayed on Burns Night and events such as Scotland Week as well as the number of Americans of Scottish ancestry, Scotland Re:Designed is in a great position to make new contacts and develop strong relationships with their American counterparts.