Traditional hand skills are the cornerstone of garment making. However, the decline in such skills has become a significant concern in the fashion and textile industry. As the industry shifts towards faster, cheaper production methods, the demand for traditional craftsmanship has waned, leading to a reduction in the number of skilled artisans.
This decline not only threatens the preservation of cultural heritage and traditional methods that have been passed down through generations, but has much broader implications for global economics, the natural environment, worker rights, individual wellbeing, and human agency in the age of artificial intelligence.
The aim of this symposium, delivered by Heritage Crafts and the Costume Society, is to spotlight the fashion textile skills most at risk in the UK, address the challenges facing hand skills generally, and identify actions to reverse their decline to support sustainable practices and the integrity of the industry.
Speakers
- Nancy Vong Johnston, Founder of Tengri
- Zack Pinsent, tailor
- Prof Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, Vice Chair of the Costume Society
- Mary Lewis, Head of Craft Sustainability at Heritage Crafts
- Philip Warren, Chair of the Costume Society
- Prof Carolyn Hardaker, Head of School of Fashion and Textiles, De Montfort University
- Gillian Proctor, Associate Professor for Enterprise, De Montfort University
Panelists:
Chaired by Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director at Heritage Crafts
- Tamara Cincik, Founder and CEO of Fashion Roundtable
- Rachel Frost, hatter, feltmaker and historian
- Alis Le May, bespoke tailor and dressmaker
- Mary Lewis, Head of Crafts Sustainability at Heritage Crafts
- Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, Vice Chair of the Costume Society
Attendance
The event is for experienced makers and industry experts in the fashion texiles sector. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] with details of your interest. Attendance is free but places are limited.
